A mother who lost her baby because a hospital sent her on a 2-hour ambulance journey has been awarded damages of €170,000.
Fiona ni Chonchubhair from Countess Road in Killarney was sent from Kerry General Hospital in Tralee on a 71-mile trip to Cork Regional Hospital without a cross match blood transfusion on board the ambulance.
The 36-year-old was 32-weeks pregnant and bleeding internally.
She was operated on but lost the baby boy who was delivered still-born by Cesarean section on May 16th 2009.
HSE apology
The Health Service Executive (HSE) admitted liability and apologised to Ms. ni Chonchubhair.
The woman who used to practice as a dentist has experienced anger, bereavement and post traumatic stress disorders and flashbacks.
Mr. Justice Sean Ryan described what she endured as the 'stuff of nightmares' and 'an example of disastrous incompetence' that is 'scarcely credible' in this day and age.
He said the husband of the 36-year-old Stephen Cotter - an orthodontist - described well how he arrived at Cork Regional Hospital ahead of the ambulance having first headed home from Kerry General Hospital as the ambulance was about to leave.
The judge said there had been bad decision-making, extraordinary ineptitude and delay.
He has awarded Fiona ni Chonchubhair damages of €170,000.
Solicitor Adrian Hegarty and Fiona Ms. ni Chonchubhair both spoke after her High Court award.
