'It's all she wanted, to be a mother', Laura Liston's grieving husband tells coroner's court in Limerick

Fergal Mannion recalled how his late wife held their son for a few minutes with 'tears of joy in her eyes', before she 'fainted and dropped the baby in the birthing pool'

Solicitor Scarlett Griffin O'Sullivan, third from left, joins Laura Liston's husband Fergal Mannion, parents John and Fiona Liston, and sisters Jennifer and Sarah, at the courthouse after the verdict was given at the inquest into the death of Laura Liston  who died after a homebirth in June 2022. Picture: Larry Cummins

Every day brings constant reminders and fresh heartbreak for Fergal Mannion, a hushed coroner's court heard, as he described the pain of losing his wife Laura Liston on what should have been the happiest occasion of their lives, the birth of their son.

Emotions ran high in the Coroner’s Court in Kilmallock as it heard how Ms Liston, who died after giving birth at home, was “let down the one time she needed it”.

Ms Liston, aged 36, gave birth to a healthy baby boy on June 4, 2022, at home near Croom under the HSE National Homebirth Service. She died in the early hours of June 5 at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) after experiencing complications when trying to deliver the placenta.

An inquest into her death on Wednesday returned a verdict of medical misadventure, with coroner John McNamara saying her death was “avoidable”.

Before witnesses took the stand to read their depositions, the HSE offered an “unreserved” apology to Ms Liston’s loved ones.

'Love at first sight'

Her husband, Fergal Mannion, was the first to give his evidence.

As he made his way to the stand, he brought a framed picture of his late wife. He carefully laid out before the courts.

The coroner said he appreciated how difficult it was for Mr Mannion, and encouraged him to take a break whenever he needed.

Mr Mannion recalled how the pair first met at a friend’s birthday over 20 years ago in Galway. Facing him, sitting on a bench were Ms Liston’s parents, Fiona and John, her youngest sister Sarah, and her sister Jennifer, accompanied by her husband.

He described their first encounter as “love at first sight”. Working abroad, in the likes of Belgium and London, they didn’t see each other for a few years — until meeting again at a friend’s wedding.

While recalling his memories, Mr Mannion broke down in tears.

Mr McNamara, the coroner, said: “I don’t want to take this away from you”. After which, he offered that Mr Mannion’s solicitor, Scarlett Griffin O’Sullivan, read the rest of the deposition on his behalf.

After getting married, the couple used IVF to conceive and were “delighted to be starting” their own family.

“Everything was finally going to plan, and Laura was over the moon to be pregnant. It’s all she ever wanted, to be a mother,” Mr Mannion said in his deposition, read by Ms Griffin O'Sullivan.

He recalled how his late wife held their son for a few minutes with “tears of joy in her eyes”, before she “fainted and dropped the baby in the birthing pool”.

Laura Liston died in the early hours of June 5 at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) after experiencing complications when trying to deliver the placenta.

When trying to deliver the placenta, she experienced complications.

Mr Mannion said his wife was let down “the one time she needed it”.

“I am haunted by what happened that night. At times, I can’t sleep as the flashbacks are so bad. Sometimes I’d be shopping in Tesco, and everything from that night comes flooding back to me, and it feels overwhelming,” read his deposition.

“Every day is hard. I am constantly reminded of Laura, and my heart breaks that she isn’t here to share all of the special moments with her child.” 

Long-awaited verdict

The primary midwife in the case, Sandra Healy, a self-employed community midwife working with the HSE, was the second witness to give evidence.

Before reading her evidence, Ms Healy stopped to place a hand on Mr Mannion’s shoulder, offering words no one else heard.

After she started reading her deposition, Ms Healy broke down in tears. Her solicitor, Oonah McCrann, continued reading evidence on her behalf.

During questioning, the court later heard how, “in hindsight”, Ms Healy could have contacted an ambulance earlier when Ms Liston experienced difficulties.

It was also established that the light was dim in the mobile home where Ms Liston gave birth.

In the afternoon, the court heard how the paramedics “fought hard” and did everything they could to help Ms Liston. They each offered their condolences to the family.

Mr Mannion rose to his feet to shake the hands of Andrew Connaughton, Shane Houlihan, and Adam Kelly —  the paramedics who read their deposition in person.

The coroner's court also heard evidence from the second midwife, Sinead Murphy; pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster; specialist registrar in obstetrics and gynecology Dr Jill Mitchell; anaesthetist trainee Dr Ronan Bluett, as well as the consultant in obstetrics and gynecology, Amanda Cotter.

The inquest offered a long-awaited verdict for Ms Liston’s loved ones.

When the coroner, Mr McNamara, gave his verdict, Mr Mannion kept his head bowed down.

Outside the courthouse, the family gathered with their heads held high behind solicitor Ms Griffin O’Sullivan, who read out a statement to the press on their behalf.

Ms Liston was described as a “private person by nature” who would have been “uncomfortable” with the attention her death has attracted.

“But she also had a very strong moral compass and would have hoped that pivotal lessons would be learned from her tragic death, for the benefit of mothers like her. This cannot be allowed to happen again,” Ms Griffin O’Sullivan read.