The daughter of Christy Dignam has slammed those who claimed her dad has passed away saying it is "cruel" to be put in a position to clear up the matter.
Aslan’s Christy, 62, was diagnosed with two rare blood cancers - amyloidosis and multiple myeloma - over 10 years ago. Christy subsequently spent some time in a hospice, after which his family released a statement earlier this year, revealing he was receiving palliative care.
In recent months, the Aslan legend has been cared for at his home in Finglas by his wife Kathryn, daughter Kiera and family. On Saturday, numerous people posted on social media that the Aslan frontman had passed away.
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However, this was untrue and forced Kiera, a talented singer, to take to social media to say the posts are untrue and that it is "cruel to have to be put in a position to have to clear something like this up." Kiera wrote: "Can people please stop sharing and posting that my dad has passed away, this is not true!"
She also said that "until an update on anything comes from myself and my family, please ignore.
"This is a tough enough time and cruel to have to be put in a position to have to clear something like this up," wrote Kiera. Several of Kiera’s followers slammed those who claimed Christy had passed away with one writing: "What is wrong with people.
"Mother of Jesus, it’s hard enough. Sending you all love," while another wrote: "OMG, that’s so cruel of people."
Earlier this month, singer Kiera performed at an intimate gig at a charity function hosted by celebrity lawyer Gerald Kean. The event, which is believed to have raised up to €60,000 for charity - €25,000 of which is to be donated to the Dignam family to help with medical bills and other costs as they continue to care for Christy at home - also saw Kodaline frontman Steve Garrigan take to the stage.
Recently in a poignant interview with RTE’s Radio One’s Ryan Tubridy, the Crazy World hitmaker described himself as "being on a conveyor belt up to heaven." In the interview Tubridy reveals how wife Kathryn referred to Christy as Lazarus, as he notes how most people admitted to a hospice for palliative care "rarely come home".
Christy says: "I thought this is it, this is the conveyor belt up to heaven.
"I’ll go in here and this will be the end of it. The reason I was staying there... Kathyrn has 10 brothers and sisters, I have eight brothers and sisters.
"So they would be all coming up to visit you and in one week I had conjunctivitis, a chest infection, a stomach bug... So they were bringing all those germs into the house.
"You have to stay up and entertain them and I was just exhausted with it. Going into respite was to just give me time to think as to what’s the best way forward, so now we limit who comes into the house."
Asked to reflect on his life he added: "Just fear, nobody wants to die. When I first got diagnosed I remember praying ‘Please just give me 10 more years’.
"And them 10 years are up now and you’re saying ‘okay, I know I only asked for 10 but you couldn’t throw another 10 in could you?’ My friend is a Sioux Indian and they believe that each life is like a lesson to be learnt.
"The more lessons to be learned the nearer you get to Nirvana until you become part of God. I like that kind of philosophy, especially now that I am coming towards the end."
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