Indian mother died 8 days after birth

The depths of Irish motherhood was underlined at the opening of an inquest into the death of a 29-year-old woman who died after she gave birth to her first baby in Sligo.

She was Indian but “had become more Irish than the Irish themselves”, solicitor Damian Tansey said about Dhara Kivlehan.

“She was a young mother and her tragic passing means that her son won’t have a mother to see him through the various critical signpost events in his development in his life.

“She chose to live in Ireland. She was very happy here. They planned to have a family. They had their first child and tragedy ensued in Sligo General Hospital.”

Mr Tansey outlined the battle Dhara’s family went through on both sides of the border to get an inquest into her death in Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital after she was transferred from Sligo General Hospital. He said Dhara’s death had similarities with that of Savita Halappanavar.

Dhara’s family had to battle both in the Republic and the North for almost four years to get a hearing.

Mr Tansey was speaking at the opening of the inquest in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, into Dhara’s death in the Belfast hospital on September 28, 2010, after she was transferred there from Sligo. Dhara lived with her husband, Michael, at Dromahair, Co Leitrim.

The inquest opened after a direction this year from Attorney General Máire Whelan to former Sligo/Leitrim coroner Desmond Moran, now retired.

Mr Tansey told the new coroner, Eamon McGowan, he was specifically instructed by the Kivlehan family, including widower Michael, to point out that almost four years had passed since the tragedy. “They have gone through hoops, and that is no understatement, to get an inquest under way.”

Dr Moran, the previous coroner, had refused to hold an inquest, so one was sought in North Ireland, where coroner John Lecky initially decided not to hold an investigation. When he later read reports, he was persuaded that an inquiry was wanted.

It became apparent that it would be difficult for Mr Lecky to hold an inquest as witnesses from Sligo hospital would be required but lived outside the jurisdiction of the North.

Mr Tansey said Dr Moran, when he received a direction from the attorney general, decided to hold an inquest. Mr Tansey said: “Having been directed by the Attorney General he had very little choice.”

Mr Tansey said five full court days would be needed for the inquest. He said all 14 witnesses in Belfast had supplied depositions but there were still only four available from 12 doctors in Sligo hospital.

Dhara died eight days after she gave birth to a healthy son, Dior. She was transferred from Sligo after four days to Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital.

In the High Court in Dublin last December, the HSE agreed to pay Dior and his father €790,000 damages. It “unreservedly” apologised for shortcomings in the management and care of Dhara at Sligo hospital.

The inquest was adjourned to July 9.