Toni Marie’s legacy: mother’s fight for garda reforms to help bereaved families

On December 16, 2023, Tracey Monaghan rushed to her home after receiving unimaginable news: her adored 17-year-old daughter had taken her own life.

The house was besieged by people trying to save Mullingar Community College student Toni Marie Kenny, but it proved too late.

Toni Marie did leave letters – but it took 71 days before her family received copies. Devastatingly for Michael, Toni Marie’s brother, who was the person who found her, a note for him left on her phone wasn’t discovered until almost 18 months after her death.

The gruelling pain the tragedy has brought to the gentle-mannered Tracey, as well as her son and the wider family isn’t, however, the main focus of this story: what is the focus is the shortcomings in terms of guidance, assistance and even at times sympathy that Tracey says came from An Garda Síochána in the 18 long months that followed between Toni Marie passing and the inquest.

“I received no home visit, no family liaison officer was ever assigned, and no member of the gardaí came to offer support, explain what had happened, or even acknowledge our unimaginable grief,” says Tracey, who called at her daughter’s inquest on June 30 of this year to have systems and procedures put in place to help families navigate through what is a bewildering experience.

At the inquest, Tracey was commended by coroner Ray Mahon on her resolve that changes be made, and Mr Mahon has, as a result of Tracey’s pleas, issued three recommendations aimed at seeing the gardaí in Westmeath look at formalising procedures for cases in which families find themselves dealing with the utter shock that suicide brings.

“What my family endured after Toni Marie’s death was not just traumatic – it was avoidable, and it should never happen again,” Tracey says, stating that what the family experienced was not support, but abandonment.

“Throughout this ordeal, I attended bereavement support groups in Longford and Offaly. I spoke with other grieving families, and I learned that many of them were treated with dignity and compassion.

“They were assigned sergeants and family liaison officers. They received home visits, consistent updates, and empathy from gardaí.

“In contrast, my family was left in the dark. We were not visited. We were not informed. We were made to chase after basic information.

“We were denied access to my daughter’s words, to her voice, to the opportunity for closure – for over two months. We are still left with unanswered questions.”

“All I have ever asked for is compassion, communication, and truth.”

An Garda Síochána statement

A statement issued by An Garda Síochána in response to the Westmeath Examiner said that following the sudden death of Toni-Marie Kenny, An Garda Síochána conducted a comprehensive investigation and submitted a file to the Coroner’s Court in accordance with the provisions of the Coroners Act.

“Local Garda management is aware of the findings of the Coroner’s Report and has met with the family of the deceased to discuss its conclusions. Any individual who contacts An Garda Síochána does so in complete confidence. We are committed to respecting the privacy and dignity of all citizens in our interactions. Our thoughts are with the family of Toni-Marie during this difficult time as they continue to mourn their loss.”

Recommendations by coroner

The three recommendations made by coroner Ray Mahon at the June 30, 2025 Inquest into the tragic death of Toni Marie Kenny are:

1 That all suicide investigations automatically have assigned and appointed a family liaison officer to provide consistent point of contact and communications regarding the investigation with the family of the deceased.

2 In cases of minors or young vulnerable adults particularly, that all devices such as phones, laptops or tablets of the deceased or found at the scene be promptly forensically examined to allay concerns or deal with the concerns of cyber bullying, coercion, or ‘Coco’s Law’ violations.

3 In all cases involving the probable suicide of a minor, the next-of-kin be visited by an appropriate member of An Garda Síochána to acknowledge the event and outline the investigation steps and procedures to lead to an Inquest.

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