Inquest into girl’s death adjourned amid legal threats

The second inquest into the death of a nine-year-old girl following an operation at Cavan General Hospital has been adjourned amid legal threats from the Health Service Executive.

The inquest was examining the death of Frances Sheridan, from Cootehill, in February 2004.

She died three weeks after having her appendix removed at Cavan Hospital.

Coroner Mary Flanagan adjourned the proceedings today after she received a letter from lawyers acting for the HSE.

The lawyers are understood to have threatened to seek a High Court injunction if Dr Flanagan did not stand down from the case due to perceived bias.

The jury in the original inquest returned a controversial verdict of death from natural causes, despite Dr Flanagan's recommendation that the only appropriate verdict was death by misadventure.