Northern Ireland

Family of west Belfast teenager who died from anorexia urge others to 'open up, speak out and take help'

Corey O'Meara, who was 19 and from Poleglass in west Belfast, died on Tuesday night at the Royal Victoria Hospital following a battle with anorexia
Corey O'Meara, who was 19 and from Poleglass in west Belfast, died on Tuesday night at the Royal Victoria Hospital following a battle with anorexia Corey O'Meara, who was 19 and from Poleglass in west Belfast, died on Tuesday night at the Royal Victoria Hospital following a battle with anorexia

THE sister of a west Belfast teenager who died from anorexia has said "life is going to be empty" without him.

Corey O'Meara, who was 19 and from Poleglass, died at the Royal Victoria Hospital on Tuesday night.

Having developed an eating disorder around the age of 13, he was officially diagnosed with anorexia a few years ago.

He became ill in the past week and was taken to hospital - his fifth admission in the last two months - where he died after his organs shut down.

Speaking to The Irish News, his sister Lauren said he had "struggled every day" with his eating disorder.

"It is something you don't expect someone in your family to have," she said.

"One day he was fine, the next day he wasn't.

"No-one really knew where it came from. He was offered a good lot of help. He struggled over the years.

"He was just so ill, he couldn't get up. He had no energy.

"He did have referrals to an eating disorder team but I don't think that really worked out for him. He never really talked to anyone. He was very closed."

Lauren said her brother was also dealing with being transgender.

Born a girl, he had been on a waiting list for surgery.

"The first thing he wanted to change was his name and use different pronouns for him," she said.

"For Corey to be able to get the full change, he needed to be in the right mind and until he was, he couldn't get it. It was a dilemma. It was going around in circles.

"There was a point a while ago he was at his best. He was doing amazing. He just went downhill again."

Lauren described her brother as someone who "was always really thoughtful about everyone".

"He didn't care what anyone thought of him. He just went for whatever he wanted to do."

She said there needs to be more help for people with eating disorders.

"An eating disorder isn't just a mental health issue. It is also a physical health issue but people don't see it that way.

"People need to speak more about the percentage of boys that have eating disorders.

"Boys may feel they are weak for having it and can't speak.

"Health professionals need to step in in the early stages and give help instead of waiting until the person is at the point where their condition is life threatening.

"I would urge people to open up, speak out and take help when it is offered."

Lauren said there are "no words" to describe how much her brother, who is being cremated on Monday, would be missed.

"A lot of us are in shock," she said.

"I feel guilty because he had all those struggles and we couldn't save him.

"I will remember him as the loving and caring person that he was. Life is going to be empty."