Mother portrayed ‘as criminal’ by board

THE mother of a brain-damaged boy yesterday claimed a health board attempted to portray her as unfit in a bid to limit the amount of damages it was set to pay out.

Kathryn Quilty’s son Kurtis was last week awarded €3.75m by the High Court after the North Eastern Health Board admitted negligence following the birth of her now nine-year-old boy.

Ms Quilty, a recovering alcoholic who was homeless for a time, said the health board admitted liability but still fought the claim. Other aspects of her background, including the death of her father in a fire and an accident that permanently hospitalised her sister, were raised in court.