Parents settle action over newborn boy’s death at Cavan hospital

The parents of an infant who died two days after being delivered at Cavan General Hospital have secured €70,000 in settlement of their High Court action against the HSE.

Francis Flynn and his wife Fiona Watters sued the HSE for mental distress and shock suffered following the death of their son Jamie, who was born at Cavan Hospital on November 22nd, 2012.

Liability was admitted by the HSE in July 2014.

At the High Court on Monday, Mr Justice Richard Humphreys approved the settlement of the case.

The couple, from Tara Court Square, Navan, Co Meath brought their proceedings over the “traumatic circumstances” of their son’s birth and the “prolonged and long-lasting” grief, distress and suffering caused to them by Jamie’s untimely death.

Jamie was delivered at Cavan General Hospital by Caesarean section. He had no heartbeat or a breath reflex when he was delivered and was resuscitated by medical staff.

Due to his serious condition, he was transferred to the intensive care unit of the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin and put on a ventilator. On November 24th it was decided to switch off the ventilator.

Lawyers for the family said the protracted hearing of an inquest into Jamie’s death had also added to their distress.

The death has been subject of a HSE investigation. An inquest into Jamie’s death last year returned a verdict of medical misadventure.