Baby may have choked on food at creche

A BABY who died after taking ill at a Limerick city creche may have choked on a piece of food.

Lauren Meehan-O’Byrne, aged 18 months, was attending the creche in Ballynanty Resource Centre when staff went to her assistance.

She was resuscitated and brought to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital. From there she was transferred to Temple Street Hospital in Dublin where she died last Saturday.

She lived at Monabraher Road, Ballynanty, just yards from the creche.

Last night, her tiny white coffin was brought to Our Lady Queen of Peace Church where hundreds of mourners joined the child’s parents, Emer Meehan and David O’Byrne and her sisters and brothers.

The funeral will take place today to Mount St Oliver Cemetery after 11am Mass.

Fr Patrick Seaver, curate at St Munchin’s Parish said:

“It is a terrible thing. Any child’s death is horrendous. One can only imagine what it could be like for the parents.

“It is a great parish and there is great support for the family and everybody is rallying around. It is an old parish in ways and there will be great care and support for a family in these tragic circumstances. That is the kind of community it is. There is great strength within the community. It is very sad and I am sure there will be great support for the family.”

Fr Seaver said he understood the child had been eating a small piece of food. Staff very quickly responded to the situation.

One neighbour in Ballynanty said: “It is a terrible tragedy. I don’t think the family has been living here very long and all our thoughts and prayers are with them at this tragic time.”

An inquest will be held at a later date. An initial report has stated that death was due to respiratory failure. As the baby died in Dublin, the coroner’s hearing will be held there.

Last January, a 21-month-old boy died at another Limerick creche from sudden infant death syndrome.