An inquest into the death of a 34-year-old woman at the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street in Dublin in May has heard she died due to a tear in the abdominal aorta.

Malak Thawley was seven weeks' pregnant when a scan identified that she had an ectopic pregnancy.

Ms Thawley, a teacher from Syria, and her husband Alan, who is American, had been living and working in Ireland for three years. They were expecting their first baby.

On 8 May Ms Thawley was taken to theatre for emergency surgery and died.

The inquest heard details of the post-mortem examination report into her death.

The report found that she died due to a tear in the abdominal aorta during surgery for an ectopic pregnancy.

Senior Counsel for the family Liam Reidy said Holles Street hospital had set up an internal investigation after the death and the report was nearing final draft form.

However, Mr Reidy told the inquest that the family had been denied access to all of the documentation relating to the investigation and he asked that all of the documents be provided to the inquest and to the family lawyers.

Barrister for Holles Street Simon Mills said the hospital did not accept the characterisation that it had refused to provide material.

He said the hospital will be happy to provide the coroner with any documents relevant to the 1962 Coroner's Act on the case.

Dublin District Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane adjourned the inquest to October.

Ms Thawley's husband was not at today's opening of the inquest.

Lawyers for the family said he did not feel up to the hearing.