Joyce
AN inquest will be finally held next month into the death of a young Co Donegal woman who died in Africa 11 years ago.
Aid worker Joyce Campbell died when she was involved in a tragic car crash in Ethiopia in 2005.
An inquest into Ms Campbell’s death was adjourned yesterday at Letterkenny Coroner’s Court but only after Coroner Denis McCauley told the hearing that he had now set a date for the hearing on July 20.
Previous hearings in the case had found that Ethiopian police were not co-operating with Interpol, who had been instructed to investigate the death.
Joyce’s mother Irene Campbell, from Meenmore, Dungloe, has campaigned tirelessly to find out how her daughter died.
Joyce had just celebrated her 25th birthday when she died while working for the Vincentian Lay Missioners.
She was only in Ethiopia for three weeks as part of a four month stay when the tragedy happened.
Two other Irishmen in the car were also injured in the crash in Welyta, about nine hours north of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on August 8th.
She was a graduate of Development, Health and Disaster Management and she also had a Masters in Humanitarian Assistance.
The dead woman’s father Paddy died four years ago, still not knowing what had happened to his youngest child.
Mrs Campbell revealed she did not even have a death certificate for her daughter but just a piece of paper from the Ethiopian authorities.
She had said she does not believe there was anything suspicious about the manner of her daughter’s death.
“I accept it was an accident. I’m told a herd of goats came out onto the road and Joyce died as a result of her injuries when the land cruiser in which she was traveling crashed,” she said.
However, the family have been left with several unanswered questions about their daughter’s death.
Now two other Irish aid workers in the vehicle – one of whom lives abroad – have told Dr McCauley they will give evidence on July 20 in Letterkenny.
Irene has said that her daughter was a “good person” who wanted to help others.
“She knew she was privileged – she had a good education and she came from a good background. She was very grounded and she was just a good person. She just wanted to help others,” she said.