Summit Gist

Ann Lovett, The Girl Whom Society Failed, 1984 Ann Lovett was a schoolgirl from County Longford, Ireland, who tragically died after giving birth to a stillborn infant at the age of 15. She was described as intelligent, lively, and artistically talented. On January 31st, 1984, Lovett left her home for school and went to a local grotto, where she gave birth to a stillborn son under a statue of the Virgin Mary. She cut the umbilical cord with scissors and wrapped the infant in her coat. Around 4 PM, three school boys found a school bag outside the grotto and heard Lovett moaning. They alerted a farmer, who went to the local holy house, where Francis Canon Gilfillan resided. Gilfillan initially denied helping, claiming that it was a job for a doctor. An ambulance was called, but Lovett died of shock and post-birth bleeding. The death of Lovett remains unanswered, with her boyfriend Ricky McDonnell claiming that she approached him in April 1983 and showed signs of a physical and sexual atta...