Hospital apology for care deficiencies after baby's death

Updated / Wednesday, 11 Nov 2026 16:50

A hospital has apologised in court to the parents of a baby boy who died 30 days after his birth.

The apology from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda in Co Louth was read to the High Court as the parents of baby Kayden Brogan Mullen settled their action against the HSE.

The letter from the CEO of the hospital, Priya Madhu, said the hospital recognised the loss of Kayden had a profound and devastating effect on the couple and it apologised for the deficiencies in care that occurred.

The action was taken by Kayden's parents, Keira Brogan and Richard Mullen from Carlanstown in Kells in Co Meath.

The court heard Ms Brogan’s pregnancy was identified as high risk, and she had attended the hospital for scans and reviews.

On 18 February 2022, Ms Brogan went to the hospital with reduced foetal movements. The plan was to admit Ms Brogan for observation and for a CTG trace, which monitors the baby’s heartbeat, to be repeated twice a day.

A decision was made to discontinue the CTG trace before midnight but the next day the baby was documented as having regular foetal movements and there was a plan for the mother to be discharged home with a review in a week.

Later, the CTG was started again, and foetal tachycardia was noted.

A decision was made to carry out a caesarean section and Baby Kayden was delivered, but after birth he went into respiratory distress.

He was transferred to a Dublin hospital at 23 hours old. There, the baby had a scan, and his parents were told he was unlikely to survive. He was discharged home for palliative care, and he died on 23 March 2022.

The couple claimed there was a failure to deliver the baby in a proper and timely manner and that a fatal deterioration in his condition had been caused immediately following his birth.

Senior Counsel, Declan Doyle told the court the settlement was reached after mediation and the terms of the agreement were confidential.

'Forever our little boy'

Outside court Keira Brogan, with Mr Mullen by her side, said Kayden was their perfect little boy and showed them great strength and resilience.

"Kayden was failed by the professionals who we put our trust in to take care and deliver him safely. That trust was broken and we are the ones who have to live with a devastating consequences every single day. No parent should have to question or see it in black and white on paper that their baby should still be here today if this mistake wasn't made," she said.

She added: "We hope that no other mother or father has to go through this nightmare. We carry the grief of losing Kayden every day along with the sadness of missing out on all the moments and milestones that should have been. His baby sister will grow up without her big brother by her side."

She said it had taken the hospital two years to admit full liability and provide an apology.

"While this apology won't bring Kayden back, for the HSE to finally admit that our baby was failed is devastating for us. However, in some small way it may help prevent mistakes like this in the future. I would urge all mothers to advocate for yourselves and always trust your motherly instinct," she said.

She said they knew no legal outcome could ever give them back their baby. But she added: "We stand here today for our son and we will continue to speak his name, honour his memory and love him for the rest of our lives. He may not have had the chance to grow but he will be forever our little boy."