'Don't let any more mums die' - Child's heartbreaking letter to Leo Varadkar

The handwritten letter said simply: "We miss our mum so much every day. Can you please make sure this can never happen to any other mum again?"

The minister was given the letter, signed by Leanne (9), Abbie (7), Joseph (4) and Sally (2) when he met their father Sean, along with Michael Kivlehan who also lost his wife to the same condition HELLP syndrome in Sligo Hospital.

Both men who met Mr Varadkar in Dublin described the two-hour meeting as "positive."

Speaking afterwards Michael, who is bringing up their young son Dior, said they had highlighted issues raised by the jury at the inquest into Dhara's death including more accountability by health staff, the importance of urgent blood test results and more information on the availability of intensive care unit beds across the country.

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Mr Varadkar said: "There have been a number of serious cases of medical misadventure in recent years which resulted in maternal and neonatal deaths that might have been avoided, including these two cases.

"This gives me cause for concern as Minister for Health.

"This year we are developing a new maternity strategy which will map maternity services for the next few decades."

He said it was "very useful" to meet Mr Kivlehan and Mr Rowlette and hear their personal perspectives on maternity services.