A Coroner has ordered an investigation into a perinatal death at Portlaoise hospital at the weekend.

It's emerged that a baby died on Saturday at the maternity unit, and a post mortem is due to be carried out.

It follows a HSE inquiry into the deaths of four newborn babies at the hospital between 2006 and 2012, which found maternity care wasn't safe or sustainable.

The HSE has offered its condolences to the family.