Latest news with #DrMyraCullinane
Irish Times
04-07-2025
- Irish Times
Defence Forces concerned about sensitive information being revealed at inquest of Private Seán Rooney
The Defence Forces have requested that parts of an inquest into the death of Pte Seán Rooney be held in private after disclosing 'extremely sensitive' information to the coroner. A preliminary hearing on Friday heard that materials received by coroner Dr Myra Cullinane relating to the death, and disclosed to Pte Rooney's family, contain redactions 'in light of operational security and force protection.' Pte Rooney (24), from Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal, was killed in an attack on a convoy of Irish peacekeepers in Al-Aqbiya, a Unifil area in Lebanon, in December 2022. Dr Cullinane said the Defence Forces had expressed concern about putting 'extremely sensitive' material and information included in the documents into the public domain during inquest hearings. READ MORE The Defence Forces argued this would elevate operational risks to personnel deployed to the Unifil mission in Lebanon. Dr Cullinane said some of the 'very sensitive aspects of the documentation' she now holds could be quite relevant to her inquiry into the 24-year-old's death. While acknowledging the need for a public inquiry, barrister Remy Farrell, representing the Defence Forces and the Minister for Defence, highlighted the risk posed to personnel currently serving. [ A 'selfless' soldier who was due to marry Opens in new window ] He suggested the court go into in-camera sessions for certain sensitive evidence. However, Dr Cullinane said she would need to be satisfied that it is 'lawful to do so' noting that such a provision is not referred to in 'any of the statute' in relation to the coroner's court. Counsel for the family Seán Guerin said force protection was a matter 'very close to the heart of the family', though he described the public nature of inquests as 'an important part of the coroner's function.' Mr Guerin said it was not yet possible for the family to be definitive in its position. However, he expected it to adopt the view of the court should some matters be deemed not suitable for public hearing even if it was legal. Mr Guerin asked to be furnished with reasons for each redaction in the documents. Dr Cullinane said her impression was that 'anything touching' the 'most sensitive issue raised' had been redacted. The coroner sought written submissions from both parties concerning the manner in which sensitive evidence could be heard and adjourned the inquest until later this month. Separately, Dr Cullinane told the court she had received materials from the United Nations and was permitted to disclose these to both parties on the condition that they be retained for the use of the inquest and not disclosed further. A previous sitting heard the UN had carried out 'substantial' and 'significant' investigations into the events surrounding the killing of Pte Rooney but the international body considered the reports 'confidential'. Counsel for the family during the previous hearing said they wanted to dispel 'the noxious narrative' that Pte Rooney 'took a wrong turn' while driving a UN vehicle before the attack. Pte Rooney was killed by gunfire when his armoured vehicle was ambushed as it drove north through Al-Aqbiya, a town controlled by the Iranian backed militant group Hizbullah . One man, Mohammad Ayyad, was later arrested and detained for allegedly taking part in the attack. He spent a year in detention before being freed by a Lebanese military court on medical grounds. Mr Ayyad failed to turn up at subsequent hearings. Four other accused have never appeared in court, and their location is unknown. Earlier this year, Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris expressed 'deep disappointment and dissatisfaction at the slow progress of the legal proceedings'.
Irish Times
03-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Mother whose baby died five days after birth satisfied ‘fair and just process' followed with second inquest
A mother whose baby died five days after birth has said she is now satisfied that a 'fair and just process was followed' after a second inquest into his death examined previously undisclosed evidence. Claire Cullen, who cofounded Safer Births Ireland, secured evidence surrounding concerns over equipment used in her son Aaron's resuscitation after he was delivered by emergency Caesarean section at Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise in May 2016. This evidence, which she obtained through freedom of information requests, sparked a fresh inquiry as it was not made available to an initial inquest which returned a narrative verdict in 2019. A narrative verdict was returned by coroner Dr Myra Cullinane on Thursday for a second time, incorporating the new evidence, before she recommended that all information relating to a death being investigated by a coroner 'be disclosed in full and at the earliest opportunity'. READ MORE Dr Cullinane said the recommendation was made 'to prevent anyone else from going through what we have had to go through'. Providing new evidence, nurse Elaine Sheehy told the inquest on Wednesday that the flow of gas through a 'Neopuff' resuscitator used to provide oxygen to Aaron during his first 11 minutes of life was at a low level until she arrived. Unable to breathe after birth, the Neopuff resuscitator was used between two failed intubation attempts. He was ultimately intubated at 21 minutes of age once a paediatric consultant arrived. Ms Sheehy also recalled a full-term mask being used which was too large for Aaron, who was born at 35 weeks. After corrective actions, Ms Sheehy said Aaron's heart rate improved and the machine began to record oxygen saturation. However, the inquest heard on Thursday that Aaron was 'already in extremis' immediately after his birth, and had been suffering from severe and persistent pulmonary hypertension, a condition in which a baby fails to transition from antenatal circulation. This, which was noted as being caused by systemic thrombosis, was the ultimate cause of his death. Dr Paul Downey, a consultant perinatal pathologist, said thrombosis found in Aaron's left kidney was heavily calcified suggesting it was 'well established' before birth. The systemic thrombosis was noted as being in association with a non-lethal mitochondrial disorder, from which the inquest heard just 30 people are known to suffer worldwide. Dr Downey said it was unclear whether there was an issue with oxygen delivery during part of the resuscitation; however, if that was the case, it was his opinion that it did not cause his death. 'That's not to say it didn't have any effect, but I don't think it caused his death,' he said. Before a verdict was delivered, Fiona Gallagher, counsel for the family, said the failure to disclose Ms Sheehy's concerns as evidence exacerbated the 'trauma and distress' the family has suffered. Counsel for the HSE, Luán Ó Braonáin, submitted that evidence heard this week points to a death of natural causes, saying it would be in the discretion of the coroner to find such a verdict. Speaking outside the court, Claire Cullen said her nine-year fight has 'finally reached a conclusion'. She said her son's rights were 'hindered and impacted throughout every investigative process' into his death. Ms Cullen believed if she had not sought further information, 'it would have never been disclosed to me'. 'Six years ago, we left the coroner's court with more questions than answers,' she said, adding that she is now satisfied it has had the opportunity to be fully investigated. 'Today, I leave the coroner's court knowing that I did everything in my power to offer my son the dignity and respect as a human being that he deserved,' she said.
