Cork University Maternity Hospital has apologised after the organs of multiple babies were incinerated without the knowledge or consent of bereaved parents.
The incident took place around the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, and an internal investigation is now underway.
The incident came to light following last night's RTE Investigates report, which found the organs of 18 babies were incinerated abroad last year as CUMH's burial space was full, despite parents seeking a burial or cremation.
Internal hospital correspondence seen by the programme shows they were sent to Belgium along with clinical waste across two days in late March and early April.
The findings of the programme will be debated in the Dail tomorrow.
Aoife Hegarty reporter with RTE Investigates told the Neil Prendeville Show on Cork's RedFM that the hospital has apologised to the families affected and the findings of an internal review are due in October or November.
"CUH has apologised, they say the distressing incident occurred under very extenuating and unprecedented circumstances brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
"CUMH has told us it was not aware of the decision to send the organs for incineration."
