Doctors clear President Higgins to return home after brief hospital stay
President Michael D Higgins speaks to the media on the opening day of the annual Bloom festival at Phoenix Park in Dublin. File picture
President Michael D Higgins is likely to be discharged from hospital today, according to Áras an Uachtaráin.
The 84-year-old was admitted to St James’s Hospital in Dublin on Sunday evening amid concerns about an infection he had developed.
He was placed on a course of antibiotics and kept overnight for observation, and had hoped to be discharged the following day.
While his medical team noted a significant improvement, they decided it was best for him to remain on antibiotics and under observation at the hospital throughout Monday.
However, doctors are now satisfied that he is healthy and well enough to return home.
Áras an Uachtaráin communications chief Andrew Payne said: “The President expects to be back in the Áras this afternoon.”
President Higgins suffered a mild stroke in February last year, from which he fully recovered within a few weeks.
He was hospitalised after experiencing what was described at the time as a “mild transient weakness,” which he later revealed was a very mild form of stroke.
It affected his left side, including his hand and hip, and worsened existing back issues, but it did not impact his work.
In July 2023, he underwent an elective medical procedure to relieve back pain.
The relatively minor procedure had been planned in advance, and he resumed his official duties shortly afterward.
President Higgins’ second and final term is due to end on November 11.
The public voted last Friday to elect left-wing Independent TD Catherine Connolly as his successor.
She was officially declared the winner on Saturday, securing 63.36% of first-preference votes, ahead of Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys on 29.46% and Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin on 7.18%.
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