Mother loses baby after alleged assault

Post mortem of child underway at UHK

THE post mortem examination of the remains of a baby girl stillborn hours after her mother was allegedly assaulted on Sunday is getting underway at University Hospital Kerry this morning ( Wednesday).

An assistant state pathologist was to conduct the post mortem alongside a specialist in perinatal pathology, who carried out a post mortem in the tragic Savita Halappanavar case in Galway in 2013. Gardaí expect the results of the post mortem of the baby girl by the end of the week, and believe it will prove crucial in informing their investigation into the suspected assault of the 35-year-old mother and the death of the child.

The woman was rushed by ambulance to UHK at 2.30pm on Sunday where the girl was pronounced dead on delivery – just hours after the woman was allegedly assaulted at a house in an estate in Listowel. It is believed she suffered significant bruising to her abdomen and other parts of her body. A man was arrested under the provisions of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act on Sunday afternoon in connection with the incident and detained overnight at Listowel Garda Station where he was questioned.

He was detained under Section Four of the Criminal Justice Act and released without charge on Monday morning.

A file is now being prepared on the matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The Kerryman understands that the woman is expected to make a full physical recovery from her injuries but has been left deeply traumatised by her ordeal and loss.

The incident has rocked the community of Listowel where one local representative said the ‘ thoughts and prayers of everyone are with the mother’.