Three nurses, caring for 31 new mothers, were on duty when Marie Downey was found dead with her newborn son critically injured underneath her.
The Irish Times reports this morning that nurses at Cork University Maternity Hospital have been complaining about understaffing for years and are upset and hurt by this week’s tragic event.
The paper stated that staff on the overnight shift included "one permanent nurse, one agency nurse and one newly qualified nurse".
The 36-year-old, who is survived by her two other children, was found on the floor of her private room on Monday morning with her son Daragh underneath her.
It is believed Marie suffered an epileptic fit while breastfeeding her son and fell out of the bed.
Daragh lost his battle for life on Tuesday.
Hospital failed to tell gardai about tragic death of mum Marie Downey and newborn son Darragh
Simon Harris announced yesterday that there would be an independent review into Ms Downey’s and her baby's death along with the hospital review.
Mr Harris described the death as "an extraordinary tragedy".
He added: "It is so upsetting and devastating to have a mother and her son pass away in one of our hospitals."
Marie and Darragh are due to be buried together on Saturday in St Michael's Church, Ballyagran, Limerick.
Marie's parents Jim and Helen Cullinane are struggling to come to terms with her death.
A source added: "Her family are fantastic people, farming people, good people.
"This is disastrous for them, our thoughts and prayers are with them. She was a lovely person.
"Her family are steeped in hurling and are well known in the local farming community."
Kildorrery Parish Priest Fr Eamonn Kelleher added: "The Downey family are good, honest, decent Christian people and an awful tragedy has come upon them.
"The hearts of all the parish, and indeed beyond the parish, go out to them."
