‘Get MMR’ plea from family of tragic bus driver

The devastated family of the Milltownpass man who died on February 7, six days after contracting measles, have appealed to those not vaccinated against the condition to get the vaccine.

“If talking about measles can spare another family this heartache, that’s what we’d like to do,” said Tom Gorman, elder brother of 48-year-old bus driver Pat, said. “We’re hoping that if anything can come from this terrible situation, it’s that someone else might be spared.”

Pat was not vaccinated against measles in childhood, and also avoided contracting the condition, which meant he had no immunity when he came into contact with the disease.

It is suspected he may have become infected while on a visit to the UK in January.

Pat was the first person in this country to die from measles in more than 20 years. His death came as health officials expressed concern over a resurgence of the disease internationally.

The HSE public health team have said those born in Ireland before 1978, or who had measles as children, were unlikely to require vaccination, but that for others, the best way to protect against measles was by getting the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine.

Aged just 48, Pat was one of a family of four, who are still trying to come to terms with the loss of their brother, an immensely popular man, as evidenced by the rich trove of tributes carried on the condolences section of his obituary on rip.ie.

“We have received some comfort from reading the lovely things people have written,” said Tom. “The incredible outpouring of affection for Pat, contained within the pages of condolences on rip.ie are a testament to the wonderful person he was.”