‘My clients need action on this NOW’

A LAWYER representing two people affected by the Kerry radiology scandal last night urged the Government to speed up compensation payments to his clients.

Both are on the list of 11 University Hospital Kerry patients seriously impacted by ‘significant’ diagnostic errors which led to a delay in their diagnosis and treatment. One of the two cases he is dealing with involves a terminal cancer diagnosis.

Pádraig O’Connell, who is based in Killarney, said his clients are ‘far too upset’ to go public about what has happened to them but said they want to see ‘action now’.

He told the Irish Daily Mail last night: ‘The long finger is not an option that is on the table. We are inviting the HSE to come and meet us in private if necessary and settle this to avoid lengthy High Court proceedings. We are urging the Government to do whatever they can to avoid this being a long, drawn-out process.’

There are currently three people on the list of 11 people who are suing the State. This was confirmed by Tánaiste Simon Coveney when he addressed the Dáil during Leaders’ Questions.

He said the State Claims Agency will at least ‘try’ to be compassionate.

‘My understanding is that three legal proceedings have been issued in relation to cases that were dealt with in the report.

‘It is always the objective of the State to try to deal with such cases in a patient-centred compassionate manner to prevent families having to go to court. It is not always possible, but that is what the State Claims Agency will try to do,’ he said.