THE HSE has agreed to pay €790,000 and has "unreservedly" apologised over "shortcomings" in the care of a 29-year-old woman who died days after she gave birth to her first child.

Dhara Kivlehan died just days after being airlifted from Sligo General Hospital to a Belfast hospital for emergency treatment.

Her family, who said they had no complaints about her treatment in Belfast, are pressing for an inquest here arising from her death.

LESSONS

The HSE "confirms that lessons have been learned from the tragic outcome in Dhara Kivlehan's case," it said in a statement yesterday.

Its apology and payment were part of the settlement of a High Court action by the family of Ms Kivlehan, nee Sandhu, a native of India, who died on September 28, 2010.The HSE admitted liability last week.

When approving the settlement yesterday, Ms Justice Mary Irvine said this was the third case before her within days where a defendant had "held out almost to the bitter end" before admitting liability. This was "very regrettable" and caused enormous distress to a family, she said.

She expressed sympathy to Ms Kivlehan's husband, Michael, and his parents, who are helping him raise the couple's now three-year-old child, Dior, at their home in Dromahair, Co Leitrim.

It is understood a separate case by Mr Kivlehan for nervous shock was settled for an undisclosed sum.

Earlier, Adrienne Egan SC, for the HSE, said it unreservedly apologised for the "shortcomings in relation to the management and care" of Ms Kivlehan at Sligo General and wished to express its sincere condolences to Mr Kivlehan, his family and his wife's parents and three siblings in India. The couple met in London after Ms Kivlehan travelled there in 2002 to study fashion design and textiles. They married in 2005 and came to live in Ireland.

Outside court, Mr Kivlehan thanked his lawyers Callan Tansey but added: "Our battle for justice must continue, three years on from Dhara's death, we still await an inquest.

JUSTICE

"Dhara's memory deserves an inquest and it is an ongoing breach of our family's human rights for our calls for justice to remain unheeded."

Solicitor Damien Tansey said the normal rule is an inquest is held where the death occurred, but if an inquest was refused in this case, that would be challenged.

Earlier, Des O'Neill SC, for the family, said Ms Kivlehan was two weeks past her due date when admitted to Sligo General Hospital and showing signs consistent with pre-eclampsia.

The family alleged the delivery of Ms Kivlehan's child was negligently delayed and inadequate urgency and speciality was applied to her case.

hnews@herald.ie