Baby Stillborn After Attack on Mother

28.06.2018

Gardaí are investigating after a baby was stillborn following an alleged assault on her mother in Listowel, County Kerry, last weekend. The incident, involving a woman who was around 32 weeks pregnant, occurred on Saturday evening in the vicinity of a house in the town.

The woman, in her 30s, who has other children, attended University Hospital Kerry (UHK) in Tralee for treatment to her injuries on Sunday.

It is understood that she suffered significant bruising to her abdomen and to other parts of her body. She delivered her baby in the following 26 hours at the hospital in Tralee, but the infant girl was stillborn.

The Kerry Coroner was notified and the Office of the State Pathologist was contacted with the request that a post-mortem examination be carried out. This was conducted by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster, who was accompanied by a prenatal specialist. Further tests will be required to establish the cause of death and the results of these tests may not be available for a number of weeks.

A 24-year-old man was arrested at an address in Kerry on Sunday and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and questioned in respect of an alleged serious assault. He was questioned throughout the day and was then released without charge. A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

RTÉ. June 27. Irish Independent. June 26.