Overview

• The woman became ill after sustaining multiple stings while working on hives near Ballycastle with her husband at about 5pm on Monday.
• Emergency services responded and the Rescue 118 Coast Guard helicopter airlifted her to Sligo University Hospital, where she later died.
• Several people who tried to help were also stung, with one woman treated at Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar and later discharged.
• Gardaí said the coroner has been notified and that the results of the forthcoming post-mortem will determine the course of their investigation.
• Beekeepers say fatalities are very rare and note bees can become more defensive in poor weather or when honey is being removed, while some cautioned that reports of a large “swarm” may be misleading.