A €900,000 settlement has been granted for the daughter of a young Donegal mother who died of cancer after two opportunities to diagnose her were missed.
Melissa Hamilton, 34, from Killygordon, Co Donegal, died on 8 September 2011 with stage four breast cancer, eight days after the birth of her third daughter. Her baby was delivered by Caesarean section at 28 weeks and five days.
Mrs Hamilton’s daughter Gracie, now aged nine, has settled her High Court action for €900,000.
The Irish Independent reports that Gracie sued the HSE through her father, Seamus Hamilton, claiming there was a failure to diagnose Ms Hamilton’s cancer at an earlier, treatable stage and negligent delay in achieving a cancer diagnosis.
The court heard that Gracie was born profoundly deaf and has had an ear implant.
In 2015, the Hamilton family settled an action for damages for €1.35m, including €900,000 to be handed over for the future care of the three young girls.
Letterkenny General Hospital admitted liability in May 2015 and apologised to the family because Mrs Hamilton’s cancer had not been diagnosed and treated at an earlier stage.