Northern Ireland

Daughter of James McClean recovering after illness left toddler ‘fighting so hard to breathe’

One-year-old daughter of Derry-born star and wife Erin took ill in recent days

James McClean and wife Erin with their four children, including youngest Mia-Rose. PICTURE: ERIN MCCLEAN/INSTAGRAM
James McClean and wife Erin with their four children, including youngest Mia-Rose. PICTURE: ERIN MCCLEAN/INSTAGRAM

The youngest daughter of former Republic of Ireland footballer James McClean is recovering after taking ill and “fighting” to breathe.

One-year-old Mia-Rose, the fourth child of the Derry star and his wife Erin, fell ill in recent days and was taken to hospital, her mum revealed in a post to social media.

She described the family’s panic over the undisclosed emergency, but said the toddler has since pulled through and is “doing much better”.

Erin said of the couple’s daughter in an Instagram post on Tuesday: “She’s been a little unwell the last few days and then yesterday she took a turn for the worst.

“There’s nothing worse as a parent seeing your baby so unwell and fighting so hard to breathe but thankfully she’s doing much better and is in the right place.”

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In a follow-up post, Erin said her daughter was “back home”



James McClean, who played his 103rd and final cap with the Republic last November, has previously spoken of how he was diagnosed with autism after noticing in his other daughter, Willow-Ivy, “small traits in her that I see in myself”.

The star, who now plays for Welsh side Wrexham, has recently appeared as a pundit on RTÉ's coverage of Euro 2024 games.