Rowlette inquest: ‘It’s hard when you have to wait for answers'

On the day Dhara Kivlehan’s inquest began in Carrick-on-Shannon, Seán Rowlette, who was by Michael Kivlehan’s side, got the news he had been waiting 18 months for.

He learned that the inquest into the death of his wife Sally – who also died after giving birth at Sligo Regional Hospital – was to take place this December.

Sally was 36 when she gave birth to her fourth child in Sligo hospital on February 4th, 2013. She died in the hospital the following day. “I too just want answers,” Seán said yesterday.

Dhara died in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast in September 2010, a week after giving birth in Sligo.

The jury unanimously reached a verdict of medical misadventure in her case on Monday night, shortly after leading obstetrician Peter Boylan outlined a catalogue of "deficiencies" he said were material contributors to her death.

Speaking later, Michael said no other woman should die in childbirth.

Children’s questions

Sally Rowlette

died 2½ years after Dhara. Her husband said one of the reasons he wanted an inquest is so he could answer his children’s questions.

“I did find Dhara’s inquest hard because it brought it all back,” said Seán yesterday. “It’s hard when you have to wait so long for answers .

“I am conscious that her inquest starts in December, when the children will be getting excited about Christmas, but the waiting is really hard and I don’t want anyone to delay it further now.”

The Rowlettes, from Dromore West, Co Sligo, were married for 12 years, but had been dating since they were teenagers. “I suppose we grew up together. Sally was a year behind me in school,” said Seán. “She lived for the kids. They were her number one priority, and their world was turned upside down when she died. I was never the type to be inside the house, and I find it hard to keep everything going now.”

Sally had picked a name for the baby, but Seán decided to call the child after her mother. “I wanted to keep the name alive.”

Sally jnr, now almost 20 months, is walking, but each new milestone is bitter-sweet for her father.

He says the older children – Leanne (9), Abbie (7) and Joseph (4) – talk about their mother all the time. “They ask questions which are hard to answer. They still miss her. The older ones have her photograph beside their beds and they say goodnight to her every night. It is hard to hear them talking to photographs.”

Seán Rowlette and Michael Kivlehan did not know each other until their tragedies brought them together, but have become friends.

“If we have a birthday party, Michael and [his son] Dior come along,” explained Seán.

He felt it was important to attend Dhara’s inquest each day, to show solidarity.

“I just need to know why Sally died. She had a normal pregnancy and was healthy. I just want to know so that at least when the children are older I can try and explain to them what happened.”

The inquest into Sally’s death is due to begin in Sligo on December 1st. It is understood Damien Tansey and Roger Murray, who represented the Kivlehan family, will also represent the Rowlette family.