Coroner adjourns inquest into girl’s death

THE inquest into the death of nine-year-old Frances Sheridan, who died 36 hours after being released from hospital, was adjourned yesterday as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has still to decide whether anyone will face charges in connection with the incident.

A garda investigation into the girl’s death has been completed and a file sent to the DPP.

Frances, from Cootehill, Co Cavan, died in early February after being sent home from Cavan General Hospital, where she had undergone surgery to remove her appendix a few weeks previously.

The young girl had been brought back to the hospital on January 30 after complaining of stomach pains.

She was assessed in the hospital’s casualty department, was told it was just a tummy bug and sent home with her parents, Brian and Rosemary. She died on February 1.

Cavan County Coroner Dr Mary Flanagan adjourned the inquest at the request of the gardaí. The court was told yesterday that the DPP was still considering the file but that a decision should be made within the next few months.

Dr Flanagan adjourned the inquest to November 18. Patricia O’Reilly, the Sheridan family solicitor, agreed to the adjournment.

At an earlier hearing, the court was told the death was caused by post-operative complications, that the girl’s bowel had become trapped as scar tissue healed.

The North Eastern Health Board commissioned its own report into the death which concluded that there was a “failure to adequately assess and manage” Frances, one of six children.

The report found that the nine-year-old was diagnosed by two inexperienced doctors and might have been saved if senior staff had been consulted.

No disciplinary action has or will be taken against any member of staff following the incident. The doctors who examined Frances have left the hospital after they completed their six-month rotation.