A Donegal boy, injured during his birth at the Coombe Hospital in Dublin, in 2012, has been awarded €15 million at the High Court.
Eoin McCallig from Dunkineely was born on November 24th 2012
RTÉ report that the court heard the Coombe Hospital stopped monitoring Eoin’s heart rate at 9.30am on the morning of his birth.
The parents alleged that if he had been monitored further, medical staff would have seen he was in distress.
He was born at around 11.30am and the court heard he had been deprived of oxygen in the 20 minutes just before he was born.
If he had been monitored and delivered early, he would not have suffered such injuries, the court heard.
The court was told Eoin was a very bright boy who will be five years old on Friday. But he cannot walk or talk and can communicate only with his eyes and expressions.
The hospital apologised to Eoin and his parents for his injuries and for the devastating consequences for the family.
Eoin’s father, Anthony, said the family could forgive a mistake, but they could not forgive the way HSE dealt with their family and others in such cases.
He told the High Court President Mr Justice Peter Kelly that the culture and procedures needed to change.
Mr McCallig said the HSE had spent €800 million over the last ten years in fighting these cases and he said the money could be put to better use.
He said the settlement of €15m would never change what happened to Eoin, but it would give them some comfort as they knew that if they died, Eoin would be looked after.
Mr Justice Kelly said no amount of money would compensate for the catastrophic injuries suffered by Eoin, but the settlement would allow him to be sufficiently supported in his life.
Mr Justice Kelly said no amount of money would compensate for the catastrophic injuries suffered by Eoin, but the settlement would allow him to be sufficiently supported in his life.
He said he echoed Mr McCallig’s comments and said there must be a better way of dealing with these cases than trials in the High Court, before making admissions just before the trial date and making offers on the morning of a hearing. He said there must be a better way than litigation to the bitter end.
Tags: