The mother of a Co Clare boy suffering from cerebral palsy told the High Court yesterday she had no inkling after his birth that something had gone wrong. James Hehir, of The Crescent, Lifford, Ennis, suing through his mother, is claiming damages for alleged negligence at his birth in Limerick Regional Hospital on September 2nd, 1990.
The action is against the Mid Western Health Board and the representative of the estate of the late Dr Loyola Kearney, who attended the birth.
Mrs Breda Hehir said yesterday that at no stage in the hours before delivery did she feel concern for the baby's welfare. Her son was delivered at 6.15 p.m. Mrs Hehir said Dr Kearney told her the baby was OK. When he did not cry, the other doctor present said: "He seems OK."
Mr James Hehir, the boy's father, said there was no alarm before his son was born. After the birth he saw him taken over to a table to be ventilated. The priest present wanted to baptise him.
The hearing continues today.
