Irish case revives memories of Kahui twins' deaths

The death of Chris and Cru Kahui (above) has striking parallels with the Irish twins' case. Photo / Supplied

DUBLIN - A 3-month-old Irish boy was fighting for his life last night and his twin brother remained stable in hospital as police investigated how both came to have serious head and chest injuries - a case which bears a striking resemblance to the Kahui twins' deaths.

Irish police, or gardai, said the nature of their investigation would be determined by a medical report on the possible causes of the injuries.

One twin is now struggling to stay alive in Dublin's Temple Street Children's Hospital after being transferred from Cork where the boys were first brought for medical treatment.

The twins were taken separately to Cork University Hospital (CUH) on January 9 where they were initially treated in the emergency department.

One was in such a serious condition he was immediately transferred for specialist paediatric care to Temple Street. The boy was diagnosed with a series of serious bleeds on his brain.

Surgeons have tried to deal with the haemorrhage and the baby has been battling to recover for eight days.

He was in a critical condition yesterday on a ventilator. The next 48 to 72 hours are said to be critical.

The boy also had injuries to his torso and doctors are trying to confirm if he has broken ribs.

The other child remains in CUH with head and torso injuries.

Healthcare staff notified gardai.

The boys' injuries are reminiscent of those the 3-month-old Kahui twins received in June 2006. They died in Auckland's Starship children's hospital after suffering severe brain injuries and extensive bruises.

Chris Kahui, the boys' father, was tried for the murder of the twins but was found not guilty by a jury in May 2008 after one minute of deliberation.

Irish detectives are now liaising with doctors and trying to find out how the Cork twins were so seriously hurt.

It was unclear last night whether the boys had been involved in any type of accident before January 9.

Their parents are a 19-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man who have been together for the past two years. Both live in County Cork and are not believed to have other children.

The father is from a very large extended family in the Cork area.

Gardai are now liaising with them over the matter.

- INDEPENDENT