Funeral held for Waterford Legionnaires' victim

The funeral has taken place of Ena Kiely, the mother-of-seven who died after contracting Legionnaires' Disease at Waterford Regional…

The funeral has taken place of Ena Kiely, the mother-of-seven who died after contracting Legionnaires' Disease at Waterford Regional Hospital.

The South Eastern Health Board said this afternoon an independently chaired investigation team has been set up in addition to the hospital's investigation process.

Mrs Kiely, who was in her sixties, was being treated in the hospital for an underlying "chronic medical condition" when she apparently contracted the disease. She was diagnosed with Legionnaires' Disease last week and died on Sunday.

Mr Pat McLoughlin said the investigation team would carry out a review and quality assure the investigation process.

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"I am setting up an investigation team, which will be independently chaired. Once the team members have agreed to take part in the process, we will publish the terms of reference and give the members' names.

"The team will then undertake the investigation and publish findings. The South Eastern Health Board will comply with any recommendations made by the independent investigation team." Preliminary results are expected in 10 days.

The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, has requested a full report from the South Eastern Health Board on the matter. An initial post-mortem has already been carried out.

Dr Mary Hickey, a consultant microbiologist at the hospital, said Mrs Kiely had been in an en-suite room for a number of weeks and the inquiry was focusing on whether or not she could have picked up the disease from the water supply in the room.

She said it was a "single, isolated case" and there was no reason to suspect there was a more widespread problem at the hospital.

Samples taken from the room, which was now cordoned off, have been examined and the results are being awaited.