Kerry General Hospital has apologised to seven women whose miscarried foetuses were retained in a laboratory for periods of up to four years.
The foetuses were retained due to what the hospital said was a breakdown in procedures between two departments.
Ms Margie Lynch, general manager, said in a statement the hospital was very sorry this had happened and deeply regretted any hurt and distress this may cause the women concerned. It had written to them and had set up support services for them, she said.
Ms Lynch said the foetuses were retained due to a breakdown between the laboratory and the hospital's gynaelogical department. They were retained between May 2001 and March 2004.
The foetuses were found during a review of the histopathology department at the hospital. Samples of tissue from 20 women who had miscarried had been held in the department for "an extended period of time" following the completion of appropriate analysis.
"Following the review, 11 of the 20 samples included a fetus, while the remaining nine samples comprised placental tissue only, without a fetus," the hospital said.
Permission had been documented in hospital notes to arrange for a "respectful burial" in the case of four of the 11 foetuses. However, for the remaining seven foetuses no permission had been documented.
The hospital said these women have now been written to in order to seek their wishes pertaining to respectful burial.
The arrangements for burial were not followed through due to "a breakdown in procedures" between the histological and the gynaecological departments, the hospital said.
"The hospital wishes to stress that the foetuses have been held in KGH's histopathology department pending respectful burial and that at no time was there an intention to undertake research or further tests on them.
"Kerry General Hospital management have offered an apology to these women for the distress this has caused to them and their families. Every appropriate support including professional counselling is being made available to them.
"A complete review of relevant procedures is taking place in the hospital to ensure this does not happen again."
The hospital said it had written to the women concerned to apologise and also to former and current patients to offer reassurance that they have "no cause for concern".
"Patient care in Kerry General Hospital is at all times a priority and every step has been taken to ensure this does not reoccur."
A helpline has been set up for the women and the hospital is also establishing a counselling service for anyone concerned about the matter. The helpline number is 066-7184056.