Tributes paid to schoolgirl who passed away from rare blood condition

Tributes are coming in for Co. Tyrone schoolgirl Holly Gormley after she sadly passed away from a rare blood condition.

11-year-old Holly Gormley from Strabane was diagnosed with aplastic anemia in February following fatigue and unexplained bruising on her body. The condition sees the bone marrow in your body being unable to produce enough blood cells. Following her diagnosis, Holly spent months in the hospital and needed constant blood transfusions before her family was told that she would need a stem cell transplant. With neither her brother nor her parents being a match, they tragically were unable to find a donor. St Catherine’s PS Strabane, the school Holly attended, posted a tribute on Saturday confirming the devastating news that she had passed away. "We remember our precious Year 7 Pupil, Holly. May her gentle soul rest in peace,” they said in a Facebook post.

"We ask everyone to keep Holly, her mummy (Mrs. Gormley), her daddy, her brother, her family, and the whole school family in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly sad and difficult time.

They described the schoolgirl as "our precious angel."

Holy Cross College in Strabane also paid tribute to Holly, saying: "We are so sorry to hear about the passing of little Holly Gormley.

"All our thoughts and prayers are with Holly’s parents, her brother JD, her extended family, her friends, and the entire St Catherine’s Primary School community at this extremely sad time.

"May Holly’s gentle soul rest in peace. God bless everyone at Holy Cross College."