The inquest into the tragic death of baby Aaron Cullen has been reopened, nine years after he suffered a severe lack of oxygen to the brain during his delivery. Born on May 4, 2016, via emergency C-section at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise, Aaron passed away five days later at the Coombe Hospital in Dublin following complications. The original inquest in 2019 had concluded with a narrative verdict.

The fresh inquest was initiated by Aaron’s mother, Claire Cullen, a co-founder of the Safer Births Ireland organisation. Ms. Cullen sought the reopening after obtaining additional material from the hospital through a Freedom of Information request in 2023, which raised significant concerns regarding an oxygen machine, specifically a Resuscitaire, used during her son's resuscitation.

During recent proceedings, senior midwife Michelle Mahon testified that she believed the Resuscitaire was functional as "the dials were moving," which she interpreted as an indication of oxygen flow. Paediatric Senior House Officer Conal McCarthy corroborated that he witnessed normal checks being performed by a paediatric registrar. Dr. McCarthy further stated that he measured Aaron’s heart rate at less than 60 beats per minute, significantly below the normal neonatal rate of over 100 beats per minute. Despite two unsuccessful attempts to intubate the baby, chest compressions and mechanical ventilation were continued. Under questioning from coroner Myra Cullinane, Dr. McCarthy confirmed the absence of specialist neonatal doctors at the delivery. Ms. Cullen's solicitor, Caoimhe Haughey, highlighted a concerning lack of medical notes detailing the baby's crucial first 10 minutes of life.

Ms. Cullen recounted her pre-delivery concerns to the inquest, stating she expressed worry to hospital staff on Friday, April 29, 2016, during a 34-week check-up, regarding her baby's reduced movement and general abdominal discomfort. A subsequent scan revealed increased amniotic fluid and dilated kidneys for Aaron. She recalled a doctor's plan to discuss these findings with her consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician, Hosam El-Kininy, and a recommendation for an urgent, more detailed foetal anomaly scan at the Coombe Hospital. Over the weekend, her abdominal pain and irregular contractions worsened, yet tests indicated no issues.

Ms. Cullen was admitted to the hospital on May 2, 2016. A midwife appeared concerned after Ms. Cullen’s waters broke at 10:45 pm that evening. She described her stomach deflating so rapidly that she could see her baby's outline. Shortly after being transferred to the labour ward at 11:05 pm, she was informed that the foetal heart rate had dropped. At 12:50 am, a red button was pressed to signal an emergency caesarean section, but Ms. Cullen was told at 1:00 am that they awaited Dr. El-Kininy’s approval. Her son was born at 1:30 am, appearing floppy, blue, and not breathing. She alleged that a consultant paediatrician did not arrive in the theatre until 15 minutes after Aaron’s birth. Recalling the moment, Ms. Cullen could not see her baby but noted her husband's extreme distress. She expressed her profound helplessness, stating, "All I could manage to do was pray to God that I would hear a cry," and "I recall feeling useless, and I just continued to pray over and over for God not to let anything happen to my son."

Aaron was subsequently transferred to the Coombe Hospital, where doctors informed Ms. Cullen they were unaware of the events during a critical four-hour period at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise, a period during which he had suffered a significant lack of oxygen to the brain. Ms. Cullen described the devastating news that his chances of survival were low, remarking, "The loss of Aaron has shattered the hearts of all his family, and we grieve his loss to this day." Dr. El-Kininy, in his evidence, stated his decision to refer Ms. Cullen to the Coombe for an urgent scan after identifying "massive" polyhydramnios, anticipating she would be seen after the bank holiday weekend. The inquest is set to resume.