McCabe foundation donation praised

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, established the Tania McCabe Foundation in memory of his wife, who died after giving birth to twins in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda in 2007.

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

Mr McCabe said it was "a delight" to finally hand the equipment over to the hospitals. He was speaking at an event in Garda headquarters this afternoon to mark the donation.

The Tania McCabe foundation fundraised by holding community and sporting events throughout 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.

Dr Maeve McCormack from Our Lady of Lourdes praised the foundation for turning a "devastating loss" into "such a huge gesture." She said the new equipment will help to support babies so small they would "only occupy the palm of your hand".

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan also lauded the work of the charity, as did broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan who said Mr McCabe's efforts were a "testament to the love a parent has for a child".