Coroner recommendations 'might save other families living through this nightmare'

Patrick and Hilary Murphy. The inquest heard Ms Murphy had expressed concern about her unborn son’s reduced movements and other issues up to her son’s death.

The coroner in an inquest into the death of a baby at Portlaoise Hospital has recommended maternity staff be given regular training updates on clinical and other guidelines and families be fully informed if their children's organs are retained.

The recommendations follow the recent inquest into the death of Ódhran Patrick Murphy, who was stillborn at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise, Co Laois on December 27, 2021. Odhran's parents, Hilary and Patrick Murphy, welcomed the guidelines but said they will only be satisfied when the HSE implements them. They told the Irish Examiner: “This will ensure that families like ours and many before us are less likely to go through and constantly live this nightmare.”