'Mammy, you're not leaving without giving me huggies; FAMILY'S ANGUISH OVER MENINGITIS VICTIM ARNI.

Byline: BY SARAH BARDON

THE devastated mother of meningitis victim Arni Griffin has told how he was full of life days before his death.

Mum Mary said there were no major signs that her five-year-old son was sick. He had initially complained of a sore elbow but was dead within 24 hours.

Mary, of Kilcogy, Co Cavan, added: "He was at the panto Cinderella last Sunday week and at another one on Wednesday so he had lots of life.

"He was just coming into his own. He was interacting lots with his little brother Ruairi who is two-and-a-half."

Arni was brought into Cavan General Hospital on Saturday but was rushed to Temple Street Hospital in Dublin where he died on Sunday.

Mary said she will remember him as a "very special child" who was "caring and funny".

She added: "If you went to the shop or he got something, he'd always ask for the same thing for his brother. Even at the sale of work in school last week, he bought a toy for himself but he had to get one for Ruairi too.

"Every time we would leave the house, he would speak to me or wave to me at the window. If you left in a rush without a hug, he would come after you and say, 'Mammy, you're not leaving without giving me huggies'. If I made buns he would have to bring one to school for his cousin and some for the teachers. He was a very special child really."

It is the second time in less than a week that doctors in Cavan have treated a child with meningitis but doctors warned parents not to panic.

Local GP Peter Finnegan said: "Meningitis is not highly contagious, it is not easily picked up and it does not often spread from person to person.

"We had 24 cases last year but none were linked. They were all isolated cases but we do take measures to prevent it spreading."

But Mary said: "There is a crossover between the symptoms of septicaemia and meningitis so if in doubt seek medical advice."

Arni's school principal at St Patrick's, Dr Liam McNiffe said: "The college is understandably deeply shocked and our prayers are with his little brother and his mother and father."

CAPTION(S):

CARING Arni Griffin died at the weekend