The parents of a nine-year-old girl who died after an operation in Cavan General Hospital have welcomed the Attorney General's decision to order a new inquest into the case, writes Frank McNally
Frances Sheridan suffered fatal complications three weeks after an appendix operation in January 2004. But at an inquest in Cavan last December, the jury attributed her death to natural causes, though the coroner had suggested that such a verdict would not be appropriate.
Yesterday, speaking through their solicitor, Brian and Rosemary Sheridan said they were "absolutely delighted" at the Attorney General's decision to reopen the case.
"They were extremely upset at the verdict of the first inquest," the solicitor added.
Inquest verdicts may be overturned if the jury or coroner exceed their powers, if there has been a breach of natural justice, or if the decision was manifestly unreasonable. Such events are rare.
But in 2002, an inquest in Ennis, Co Clare, overturned an earlier jury's suicide verdict in favour of an open verdict on the death of a priest. The priest's family had appealed to the Attorney General, as in this case.
The Sheridan family, from Cootehill, Co Cavan, were said to be "distraught" at the outcome of the inquest into their daughter, which they believed was not compatible with the evidence heard.
Frances Sheridan was taken to hospital when her appendix burst in January 2004. She was released after an operation, but three weeks later developed abdominal pains.
Her doctor advised an immediate return to Cavan General Hospital where she was X-rayed and discharged. After continued pain and repeated vomiting, she collapsed 36 hours later and died at home in her mother's arms.
State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy said a postmortem showed the girl had died from complications following surgery. During the healing process, scar tissue or "adhesions" developed, as was normal. Unfortunately, the adhesions formed a loop which caused the child's bowel to become permanently trapped, something that would have happened only "a few hours" before her death.
A North Eastern Health Board inquiry found there had been a failure to administer and manage properly Frances Sheridan's care. There were inadequacies in the hospital's systems, an absence of guidelines, and a need for structural changes in the A&E department.
At December's inquest, a jury took only two minutes to return a verdict of death by natural causes.