Aibha Conroy death: Inquest adjourned until October

The inquest into the death of six-year-old Aibha Conroy from Co Galway was adjourned on Thursday night until October.

Dublin Coroner Brian Farrell had fully expected to give a verdict before the afternoon's proceedings.

However, certain matters arose as part of the closing remarks from the legal teams.

Mr Farrell apologised profusely to the family for the delay in the verdict, but insisted the integrity of the Coroner’s Court be maintained.

‘Tragedy’

“I must protect the integrity of the inquest. I want to make sure I have the evidence right,” he said.

The Conroy family’s solicitor, Damien Tansey, urged the coroner to give a verdict of medical misadventure.

Noting that it had been a long inquiry, Mr Tansey, in his closing remarks, said, “The Conroy family has not been intent at pointing the finger of blame at anyone. It is rather to get some answers to the tragedy that engulfed their family in December 2011.”

Referring to Kathleen and John Conroy, Aibha's parents, Mr Tansey said they are " two extraordinary, outstanding people. It was a vindication of Aibha that spurred them on to launch this inquiry," he said.

‘Evidence not there’

In his closing remarks, Declan Buckley, the legal representative for the Health Service Executive, said he was against a verdict of medical misadventure "because the evidence is simply not there".

Aibha, from Gowla, Connemara, Co Galway, died at Temple Street children's hospital in Dublin on December 14th, 2011.

Four days previously she had been admitted to Galway University Hospital suffering from hypoglycaemia, or low blood sugar, weakness and vomiting.

Soon after her admittance to Galway University Hospital, Aibha had a respiratory arrest and suffered brain damage. She was transferred to Temple Street hospital later that day.

A number of doctors and nurses involved in providing care for Aibha spoke at the inquest throughout this week, as well as expert witness Dr Susan O’Connell, from Cork University Hospital.

Aibha’s teacher Caroline Ni Chonghaile also spoke at the inquest.