Teenage girl to receive €575,000 over birth injury

A teenage girl is to receive €575,000 in settlement of her High Court action over a shoulder injury suffered due to alleged negligence…

A teenage girl is to receive €575,000 in settlement of her High Court action over a shoulder injury suffered due to alleged negligence in the circumstances of her birth. The settlement was made without admission of liability.

Through her mother Theresa, Donna O’Sullivan (13), St Colmcille Road, Gurranebraher, Cork, had sued the Health Service Executive (HSE) over alleged negligence at her birth at St Finbarr’s Hospital, Cork, on January 11th, 1999. The HSE had denied the claims.

It was claimed she suffered left-sided Erbs Palsy and severe injuries to her shoulder and nerves. It was claimed these resulted in her having two operations on her shoulder, plus physiotherapy. The settlement was against the HSE. At the High Court yesterday, Ms Justice Mary Irvine said she had no difficulty in approving what was an “excellent” settlement.