Community mourns loss of expectant mother, 32 By Catherine Reilly DUBLIN’S ROTUNDA maternity hospital is believed to be investigating the death of a 32-year-old Nigerian woman who was under its care, Metro Éireann understands.
The woman, named in Dublin’s Nigerian community as Bimbo Onanuga from Lagos State, had been over seven months pregnant and is understood to have been referred to the Rotunda by her GP on Monday 1 March.
According to sources close to the deceased woman, it was relayed to Onanuga at the Rotunda that her expected child had died in the womb. She was treated and advised to return on Thursday for further treatment, but went back to the hospital by ambulance on Wednesday, in severe pain.
She is then said to have stayed overnight at the Rotunda, where Metro Éireann understands her partner – who is also Nigerian – issued staff with repeated warnings that Onanuga’s condition seemed to be fast deteriorating.
Onanuga was later transferred to the nearby Mater Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at around 11pm on Thursday 4 March.
Her partner was unavailable for comment, but sources close to the family told Metro Éireann he felt his warnings weren’t listened to. A reliable source said Onanuga’s relatives have been informed by the Rotunda that an investigation is underway.
The late woman is understood to have a daughter with cerebral palsy, to whom she was a primary carer.
A Rotunda spokesperson told Metro Éireann it could confirm there had been “a recent maternal death” which is subject to “a coroner’s investigation”. The spokesperson would not confirm the nationality of the deceased, nor provide any further comment.
