Bronagh never had a chance

“MY daughter is devastated. She sat yesterday with her dead baby in her arms all day.She still had it in her arms this morning.

“I intend to see Micheál Martin. Whether he wants to see me or not I intend to see him.”

Jimmy Livingstone wants answers. Someone must be held accountable.

Yesterday, he helped his daughter Denise bury her three-month premature baby daughter Bronagh.

The baby was born in an ambulance just miles from Cavan hospital early on Wednesday morning after Denise, 23, was refused treatment at the Monaghan hospital. Maternity services at Monaghan were suspended last year.

Despite pleading with medical staff, Denise and her sister were put in an ambulance. Denise gave birth during the 25-mile journey to Cavan General Hospital. The baby died shortly after arriving at the hospital.

Bronagh was buried in a small white coffin in St Patrick’s cemetery, at Corracrin, near the Livingstone’s Emyvale home.

Last night, Micheál Martin appointed and independent team of health experts to examine the circumstances of the death. The three-member team is made up of Sean Day, master of the Coombe Women’s Hospital, management consultant Maureen Lynott and a clinical midwife manager in a maternity hospital who has yet to be named. The team must report back before Christmas.

But Jimmy Livingstone said that is not enough.

“I would have loved to have seen Micheál Martin stepping into this house this morning. What answer would he have for my daughter?

“He is the man who withdrew the medical services. The North Eastern Health Board are his puppets. He is the man.”

Mr Livingstone’s life was saved by Monaghan hospital when he was resuscitated in 1978 after an attack. Two years ago, Denise’s sister gave birth to a premature baby, who survived after treatment at Monaghan.

Locals and opposition politicians have placed the blame firmly in the hands of the Government.

“Attempts to blame either Monaghan hospital or the health board are misplaced. As the minister responsible, Micheál Martin must exercise political leadership and come clean on the future of Monaghan hospital,” said Fine Gael health spokeswoman Olivia Mitchell.

Mr Livingstone was adamant his granddaughter would have lived if Monaghan had maternity services.

“A child that breathes on its own at six months and cries on a 12-mile journey is a strong child and that child got no chance of life because there were no maternity services in Monaghan hospital,” he said.