Garda's foundation in memory of wife donates incubators to hospitals

Two maternity hospitals have thanked a charity foundation that raised funds to provide them with new equipment.

Aidan McCabe, a Garda sergeant based in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, established the Tania McCabe Foundation in memory of his wife, who died after giving birth to twins in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Co Louth, in 2007.

Since its inauguration in 2011 the foundation has raised more than €100,000, which it recently spent on incubation equipment to treat pre-term babies at Our Lady of Lourdes and Holles Street hospitals.

Mr McCabe said it was “a delight” to finally hand the equipment over to the hospitals.

Speaking at an event at Garda headquarters in Dublin yesterday, he said the foundation provided event organisers with a vehicle “that they could give money to instead of just giving it direct to the neonatal units.

“They actually give it to a foundation which goes and buys equipment. So the money is not wasted, it actually purchases equipment that the hospitals need.”

Dr Maeve McCormack from Our Lady of Lourdes praised the foundation for turning a “devastating loss” into “such a huge gesture”.

She said the equipment would help support babies so small they would “only occupy the palm of your hand”.

The foundation fundraised through community and sporting events during the year. “There’s a pride and joy in that we’re able to do it and to do it in such a way that’s very positive and has brought an awful lot of people together,” Mr McCabe said.

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan praised the work of the charity, as did broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan.