External reviews into deaths at Cork and Kerry maternity units to be conducted

It follows confirmation from Cork University Maternity Hospital of an external review into a maternal death that happened last Friday. Picture: Larry Cummins

External reviews are to be conducted into the deaths of two pregnant women at maternity units in Kerry and Cork in recent weeks, while a third maternal death has occurred in Drogheda.

Three deaths linked to pregnancy over a short time period is unusual in Ireland, where such tragedies remain a rare occurrence. It is understood there was no commonality between the cases.