A €30 million settlement between the HSE and a teenage boy with cerebral palsy has been approved by the High Court in a medical negligence case.
Oran Molloy, from Birr, Co Offaly, suffered catastrophic injuries due to a lack of oxygen during birth at Portiuncula Hospital in Galway in 2006.
Deirdre Molloy needed a caesarean section on New Year’s Eve 2006 after being admitted to hospital the day before. She was 32 weeks pregnant.
Due to a lack of oxygen, Oran was unresponsive when he was born and needed to be resuscitated.
He was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Now 14-years-old, the court heard he can’t stand or walk without help and needs to use a wheelchair for long distances.
The HSE accepted liability and a settlement of €30m was approved today.
The family’s solicitor, Gillian O’Connor, from Michael Boylan Litigation Law Firm, described today as “bittersweet” for Oran’s parents.
“Undoubtedly, a huge burden has now been lifted from their shoulders”, she said, “but the compensation would be returned in a heartbeat if the serious mistakes made that night could have been avoided”.
