Couple accuse HSE of delaying inquest into death of newborn

A couple who lost their child shortly after birth has accused the HSE of dragging out an inquest for six years in the hope that they would give up.

A verdict of medical misadventure was returned by an inquest jury in the case of Caoimhe Mulcair who died 39 minutes after being born on February 11th, 2009 at the Regional Maternity Hospital in Limerick.

Caoimhe’s mother Joan claimed on Wednesday that the HSE had attempted to delay the inquest in the hope that “we wouldn’t keep going. They thought that we’d give up that we would just move on”.

The couple had been given no reason why the inquest had taken so long “it just dragged on and on”.

Joan and her husband John Mulcair both pressed repeatedly for an inquest into their daughter's death, but the HSE stated that the cause of death was known and there was no reason for an inquest.

The Mulcairs received expert advice from UK-based consultant obstetrician Edward Shaxted who found the baby had been progressively starved of oxygen in the womb and that warning signs were largely ignored by staff.

A verdict of medical misadventure was recorded at an inquest in Limerick in which a public apology was issued by hospital chief executive Colette Cowan. The couple on Tuesday dismissed the apology as "six years too late".

Speaking on the Today with Sean O'Rourke programme on RTÉ Radio 1, Mrs Mulcair recalled the "terrible moment" when they realised something was wrong with their child.

Shortly after Caoimhe was born at 7.46pm she was taken to the special care unit. The couple were not informed what was going on, she said. Mrs Mulcair insisted on being present and she was put into a wheelchair and taken to the unit.

“We could tell straight away it wasn’t looking good, we were completely in shock, we couldn’t believe what was happening,” she said.

The couple had been offered counselling but it was to take place across from the special baby care unit where she died. “It wasn’t appropriate,” she said. “We weren’t comfortable about going there.”

Mrs Mulcair said Caoimhe’s death was especially tragic as she had been conceived by IVF. She had been “very much wanted”.

The couple had five more attempts at IVF. Eventually, their son Luke was born in January 2011 and is now at school. She said the couple were overprotective of him because of what happened their daughter.

Mr Mulcair told the programme the inquest verdict and the apology offered by the HSE brought closure for them.

However, he stated that the HSE has to change and be more responsive to the needs of families.

“It is a shame that she did die. Luke will never have a sister, we will never have a daughter,” he said.