The daughter of a Co Wexford woman who died days after she was found in a severely malnourished state today said she had done her best to look after her mother.
Evelyn Joel (58), who lived with her daughter's family in Enniscorthy, reportedly weighed under four stone when she died in Wexford Hospital at the weekend.
She was found severely malnourished and lying in her own excrement after her daughter Eleanor Joel called an ambulance on New Year's Day. She had been confined to bed since September.
Today Eleanor said her mother had multiple sclerosis, and was suffering from septicaemia when she was admitted to hospital.
She said she had been very tempted to call a doctor or social services as her mother deteriorated, but Ms Joel had not wanted any help.
"I did my best and I couldn't do any more for her, and I had no help doing it, I did it all on my own."
Eleanor said her mother was a strong-willed woman, and she didn't want to go against her wishes.
"She said 'no leave it alone, I don't want help, I don't want to go to a nursing home, I don't want to see doctors, I don't want nothing, or nobody'," Eleanor told RTE's Livelineprogramme.
"I felt I was going against her wishes by getting help."
Eleanor said she didn't realise how far her mother had deteriorated until New Year's Eve and had decided to call an ambulance on New Year's Day.
"She hadn't spoken to me in a day and when I told I had to get her an ambulance, she said 'no', and that was her last word to me."
Eleanor denied reports she had been laughing at her mother's funeral, insisting she was very upset.
Ms Joel's brothers and sisters have claimed they were not able to see their sister in the months before her death.
The Garda and the Health Service Executive have both opened investigations. Ms Joel's daughter said in today's interview that she would co-operate fully with all investigations into her mother's death.