Parents warned at inquests about dangers of sleeping with children

A MOTHER woke to find her baby dead beside her after ringing in the New Year with half a bottle of champagne, a couple of beers, a quarter of an ecstasy tablet and cannabis.

The dangers of babies sleeping with their parents was highlighted yesterday at inquests into the sudden deaths of three infants - all in their parents’ beds.

The coroner, Deborah Malcolm, said she realised the mother who had taken alcohol and drugs had been celebrating New Year’s Eve but stressed: “I think what one always has to remember is there can be no days off when there is a baby in the house. Drink and drugs must not be taken by those responsible for a baby.”

Iona Guiney had been put to bed beside her two-year-old sister in their parents’ bed at their home at Glenarm Square, Finaghy, Belfast, on New Year’s Eve 2001.

Her mother, Caoilfhionn McCann, said she had shared the bottle of champagne with her partner William Guiney, a few beers and an ecstasy tablet. She had also smoked a couple of joints.

She admitted: “I may have been a bit giddy and silly as a result of the champagne, but I didn’t feel different because of the ecstasy. I didn’t really feel any effect from it because it was only a quarter of a tablet.”

Ms McCann insisted: “I didn’t feel out of control and not knowing what I was doing.” She went to join her daughters in the double bed, leaving her partner downstairs.

Mr Guiney said he woke at 9.15am and went upstairs to get into bed and noticed Iona was a strange colour. “She was grey, she was cold, I picked her up and patted her back and got no response.”

He said the couple called an ambulance and tried to revive the infant, but she was declared dead at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.

Paediatric pathologist Dr Claire Thornton said the child had been well nourished and healthy, but had a slight viral infection. The infection had not been the cause of death.

Detective Sgt Alan Scott said a file had been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who had ruled there should be no prosecution.

All three mothers at yesterday’s inquest said they had been warned of the dangers, but said they were breast feeding and it was more convenient.

Dr Claire Thornton, who carried out post mortems on all three at The Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, said there were well recognised risk factors for Sudden Infant Death and co-sleeping was one of them.

“Co-sleeping is recognised to be a danger because there is a risk of suffocation and overheating,” she said at each of the inquests.

She said there were around 20 sudden infant deaths a year in the North and 70% followed co-sleeping.

Coroner Deborah Malcolm said all three mothers had mentioned the convenience of having the baby in bed with them because they were breast feeding. But she said the deaths “highlight again there are risk factors in co-sleeping. I do feel babies should not dictate where they are to sleep. It is a bit of an excuse used.”