'I feel like the treatment she got has taken the love of my life away from me', husband says as inquest concludes
Damien Tansey SC with Conor Cusack in Kilmallock for the inquest. Picture: Brendan Gleeson
Leona Cusack was "loved by everyone, the bubbliest person you will ever meet", her broken-hearted husband said, after an inquest into her death concluded.
The 33-year-old died on February 18, 2024 at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), having suffered a miscarriage. She was seen also at University Maternity Hospital Limerick.
A narrative verdict was given by coroner John McNamara, who was not satisfied there was medical misadventure in this tragic case. Such a verdict does not apportion blame but merely establishes the facts.
The cause of her death was recorded as cardiac respiratory failure due to neutrophilic myocarditis, an extremely rare heart condition.
The inquest heard that this is often a severe complication of bacterial or fungal infections, especially in the context of sepsis or endocarditis. It can also arise from other causes.
Afterwards, her husband Conor Cusack paid tribute to her, becoming visibly emotional at times.
“She was the love of my life,” he said.
He described her as “the bubbliest person you will ever meet in your life.”
Her parents, Eamonn and Clare Kirwan were also present during the two-day inquest.
“Eamonn and Clare will tell you she was the best daughter you could ever have, Sarah and Rachael will tell you the same about being her sister, she was loved by everyone,” Mr Cusack said.
Solicitor for the family, solicitor Damien Tansey SC, said: “Conor is obviously very, very upset about the whole thing. He was fighting to vindicate Leona’s memory, her place in the family, and that fight goes on.”
He said civil proceedings will be issued.
Ms Cusack, from Ballycasey in Clare, went to the maternity hospital on February 15, concerned she was having a miscarriage. She was five weeks pregnant following an IVF intervention in January.
She was seen again on February 16, but not admitted. Conflicting evidence was heard about the reasons for this. She returned early on Saturday, February 17 and was extremely unwell.
She was almost immediately transferred by ambulance to UHL, due to fears of a heart attack risk.
While concerns were raised by maternity staff about sepsis, she did not receive the appropriate antibiotics there. She later received these at 4pm in UHL.
Ms Cusack was treated in the coronary care unit, and transferred briefly to the intensive care unit on the Sunday. She died in theatre despite efforts to save her.
An apology was given by cardiologist Cormac O’Connor to the family for his “poor communication” during those difficult hours. Conflicting examples were heard.
Coroner John McNamara said this was “a sad and tragic case” as well as a “complex medical case”.
He acknowledged the “nightmare scenario” for Ms Cusack’s family and their many supporters who attended.
He said there also was “a lot of humanity shown” by hospital witnesses who gave evidence during the inquest.
The coroner referred to a breach of the national sepsis care protocol during Ms Cusack’s treatment. This was acknowledged by various healthcare workers.
He said a source of the infection has not been found, and noted how extremely rare this heart condition is.
“This inquest will end, but it won’t end for Conor or the rest of Leona’s family,” Mr McNamara said in conclusion.
Barrister Patrick Leonard SC expressed sympathy on behalf of both hospitals and all involved in Ms Cusack’s care to the family.
“It is a heartbreaking loss,” he said.
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