Inquest hears details of deaths of healthy newborn and mother at CUMH

Marie Downey and her newborn Darragh were found unresponsive by midwives at Cork University Maternity Hospital on March 25, 2019

Marie Downey and her baby son Darragh. Ms Downey was found by a midwife partially out of her hospital bed, in a contorted position with her lower legs still on the bed. Baby Darragh was found moments later trapped on the ground underneath her torso.

A healthy newborn baby boy suffered a massive and irreversible brain injury in a maternity hospital after his mother suffered an epileptic seizure, possibly while breastfeeding, and was found partially out of her bed with her baby trapped underneath her body.

The tragic details were confirmed today on the second day of the joint inquest into the deaths of Marie Downey, 36, from Knockanevin near Kildorrery in north Cork, on March 25, 2019, and her baby boy, Darragh, the following day, at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH).