€13m extra for six patients left disabled by medical errors

A YOUNG woman left paralysed by surgery and five children catastrophically injured at birth were among those who have seen their damages rise by a total of more than €13million after a landmark ruling.

The additional payments were approved yesterday by High Court president Judge Peter Kelly.

It follows a recent ruling affecting the rate of return on awards.

Each of the six cases had previously settled on a different rate of return but a recent High Court judgment, which was upheld by the Appeal Court, means they will now benefit from an improved rate.

The defendants – often the HSE – will have to make up the difference.

The ruling means that lump-sum awards will be higher in the future. It is estimated the cost to the State will rise by €100million per year.

Uplifts approved yesterday included almost €4million to Isabelle Sheehan, from Mallow, Co. Cork, who has cerebral palsy. She had sued consultant obstetrician Dr David Corr, who, in 2004 when she was born, had a private practice at Bon Secours Hospital, Cork. It brings her award total to €15.6million.

A further €3.5million was paid to Eoin Dunne, from Malahide, Co. Dublin, bringing his total award to €14.9million. The High Court previously ruled Dublin’s Coombe Hospital was liable for the injuries he sustained when he was born in 2002.

Emily Casey, 19, from Dalkey, Co. Dublin, got an extra €1.4million after she was left paralysed when a screw was inserted into her spine at Crumlin Hospital in 2009. She received an apology from the hospital two years ago. Her total award is €6.2million.

An extra €2.8million was paid to Róisín Conroy, from Portlaoise, who has cerebral palsy as a result of the mismanagement of her birth in 2001. Her total is €14.4million. Two further increases of €1.2million and €367,000 were also ordered to be paid to Nadine Wilkin, from Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, and Aaron Hanrahan, from Donohill, Co. Tipperary.