The Health Service Executive this week apologised to the family of a 34-year-old Garda sergeant, a native of Louisburgh, who died after giving birth to twins at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
The apology by the HSE was made before the High Court after the husband of Tania McCabe, Sgt Aidan McCabe, Co Louth, settled his action over the death of his wife.
The case against the HSE and Dr Shane Higgins, a consultant obstetrician/gynaecologist at the hospital, was brought by Sgt McCabe, the couple’s elder son Ben (six ) and surviving twin Adam (four ).
The HSE admitted negligence.
Ms McCabe was admitted to hospital on March 6 2007, after her waters broke three months before her due date. She was discharged the following day and readmitted on March 8 while in labour.
The twins were delivered by Caesarean section, but one had severe congenital abnormalities and died a short time after his birth. In the hours following the birth, Ms McCabe suffered a postpartum haemorrhage and had emergency surgery but died.
The court approved a settlement of just over €200,000 for the two children. Details of the settlement for Mr McCabe were not disclosed. Mrs McCabe's mother Barbara Corcoran had already settled her case for nervous shock.
