A four-year-old boy died after being discovered unresponsive following a nap at his creche, an inquest heard.
Tragic Cillian O’Driscoll was killed by a viral infection that attacked his lungs in Ballincollig, County Cork.
His devastated dad said the youngster – who had been diagnosed with ASD and was primarily non verbal – said his son had said “All the Best” as he waved goodbye for the last time that morning.
The tragedy happened on December 14, 2018, while three senior managers -including the creche owner – were out for a Christmas lunch.
A review by Ireland’s child at Kinder Care creche and family agency Tusla raised concerns that a Safe Sleep Policy was not properly followed.
Cillian was glanced at by workers – rather than being checked every 10 minutes, and no formal written record of checks was made.
He was sleeping on his side in a small tree house in the creche’s play room.
Dr Margaret Bolster said that Cillian died of cardio respiratory arrest due to myocarditis and a florid bilateral bronchial pneumonia. She said that it was likely that the was displaying no symptoms at the time of his death.
A verdict of natural causes was recorded.