Martin to hold talks with Monaghan family

Health Minister Michael Martin will hold talks tomorrow with the family of the Monaghan baby who died after her mother gave birth while en route to Cavan General Hospital.

The baby's grandfather is condemning the North Eastern Health board for failing to release details of a report into baby Bronagh's death.

In a statement, the chairman of the North Eastern Health Board Declan Breathnach said they were acting on legal advice.

He said it would be inappropriate that the board's report would be disclosed before the Minister published his findings.

At a meeting of the health board today, Mr Breathnach also refused to allow a discussion of the matter.

Some members of the board walked out in protest.

The baby's grandfather Jimmy Livingstone, who attended the meeting, described it as a circus.

"At least I would have hoped for a debate as to why a child died, why my daughter had to give birth on the side of the road in this day and age," he said.

"Those are the people who voted down Monaghan maternity services, they talk about reports and hide behind this report and that report, review after review, and now they are all hiding behind another review and their legal position in there.

"The legal position is my daughter's baby died on her way to Cavan hospital because there was no maternity service in Monaghan hospital."