DUBLIN, Ireland: A Tipperary hospital has apologized to a couple from Clonmel and admitted they fell short in their duty of care to their baby.

On January 28, barrister Patrick Treacy SC, representing Tipperary University Hospital, read out an apology in the High Court, addressed to parents Sinead O'Donnell and Luke Kelly, offering the hospital's "sincere apology" for the care baby Freddie received there in July 2021.

Freddie died in the early hours of July 2. O'Donnell attended the hospital for antenatal care on the morning of July 1, after experiencing pains the previous night.

Her temperature was 38.4°C, so she was moved to the labour ward. After doctors checked her, they decided to do a C-section under general anaesthetic.

Baby Freddie, who was full-term at 40 weeks, was born at 2:34 a.m. He had no heartbeat and was not breathing. Doctors tried to revive him, but it did not work.

O'Donnell and Kelly then took legal action against the HSE, alleging that the hospital failed to properly care for both the mother and the baby.

They said that on July 2, the hospital did not treat or care for them carefully or properly. They claimed the hospital delayed the delivery when the baby should have been delivered sooner.

They also said the hospital did not act on a heart monitoring test (CTG) done at 1:10 a.m., which showed signs that the baby was not getting enough oxygen.

They said the hospital did not urgently call a doctor or adequately explain how serious the baby's condition was.

They also said that after staff were called at about 1:20 a.m., the medical team did not arrive until 1:45 a.m., which wasted valuable time and reduced the chance to help the baby, putting him at unnecessary risk.

The baby was born at 2:34 a.m. and was declared dead after doctors could not revive him. However, his heart rate had been normal just seven minutes before birth. An autopsy found no physical problems with the baby's body.

A lawyer said the HSE admitted that there were mistakes during the birth and that staff failed to respond appropriately to the CTG scan. He said they were unable to monitor and act.

The lawyer also read an apology letter from the hospital manager at Tipperary University Hospital. The letter said the hospital was deeply sorry for the poor care that led to the stillbirth of the baby and that they understood no apology or money could ease the parents' pain.

The lawyer said this letter was a full apology and an admission that the hospital's actions caused the baby's death.

The judge spoke to the parents in court and offered his deepest sympathy to them and their family for the tragic loss of Freddie.