A newborn baby boy, who was found underneath his dead mother on the floor of her single room in Cork University Maternity Hospital, has died.
Marie Downey and her son Darragh were found on the floor of her room at Cork University Maternity Hospital just before 8am on Monday by medical staff on their ward rounds.
The incident is being treated as a tragic accident.
The baby boy died yesterday evening. A post-mortem examination is due to take place in Dublin tomorrow.
In a statement, the hospital said: "As with all unexplained deaths a full medical investigation was immediately initiated. This investigation is currently under way at CUMH.
"CUMH wishes to express its deepest sympathy with the family of the mother and her baby. The priority now for the hospital is the well-being of their family."
The results of a post-mortem examination which was carried out on the mother, who was aged in her 30s, are still awaited.
One line of investigation is that she suffered a medical episode as she was breastfeeding her baby, which caused her to fall from her bed.
The Health Information and Quality Authority has said it is monitoring the situation and will be in contact with the management of the hospital. HIQA has not initiated its own investigation.
Mrs Downey lived in Knockanevin, Kildorrery, Co Cork. She is survived by her husband, Kieran, and their two sons, James and Sean.
Fr Eamonn Kelleher, parish priest of Kildorrery, said it is an "awful tragedy for the parish".
He said the Downey family "are being surrounded by support but at the same time the whole community feels helpless".
Fr Kelleher said that there was immense respect for the Downey family, and people in the community will do what they can with great sensitivity.
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Ms Downey worked for the pharmaceutical company Novartis, based at Ringaskiddy in Cork Harbour.
The company released a statement, describing her as a valued team member and saying their thoughts and prayers are with her family.
Additional reporting Paschal Sheehy
