Member's statement: Ciarla Herron: Bilateral Cerebral Palsy

Member's statement by Ms Aisling Reilly on 29 June 2026.

MLA: Ms Aisling Reilly
Party at the time: Sinn Féin
Date: 29 June 2026
Type: Member's statement (made as a minister)
Business: Members' Statements
Heading: Ciarla Herron: Bilateral Cerebral Palsy
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5644572

Text

I want to speak about a remarkable little four-year-old girl from my West Belfast constituency called Ciarla Herron. Ciarla is a bright, happy and determined wee girl whom I recently had the opportunity to meet at one of her fundraisers. Like any four-year-old, she just wants to play with her friends and siblings. She wants to learn and do everything that comes with being a child of four years old. Ciarla was born with a rare form of cerebral palsy that is commonly known as "bilateral cerebral palsy". She uses a Kaye walker, a wheelchair and, sometimes, crutches day by day because she cannot walk or stand unaided. She tires easily and lives with pain in her wee limbs, but she meets every day with courage, resilience and a smile that inspires everyone around her. What stands out most about Ciarla is the determination that she shows every day. She has undergone specialist physiotherapy that has already transformed her strength, confidence and movement. She has completed two intensive therapy programmes and is currently in London going through another extensive round of treatment. With the right support, she has every opportunity to keep progressing. Her dream is simple: she just wants to be able to walk by herself, unaided.
Like too many families, Ciarla's parents have had to travel outside Ireland to access that specialist treatment. Alongside the emotional strain comes the financial pressure of therapy costs, travel, accommodation and time away from home and family life. Families should not have to fundraise simply to give their child the best possible chance. We also have a responsibility here to ask what more we can do so that families are not forced to leave home or shoulder enormous financial burdens to access life-changing therapies for their children such as Ciarla. Ciarla has captured the hearts of so many people, who have come together to stand behind one little girl and one little family, helping them to continue along that journey. I finish by paying tribute to Ciarla's mummy and daddy, their entire family and everyone who has supported or contributed to her campaign. Most important, I pay a huge tribute to Ciarla herself, who continues with such determination every day just so that she can walk by herself.

376 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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