Boy gets €4.5m from hospital for birth injury

A six-year-old permanently brain damaged boy is to receive €4.5 million plus legal costs in settlement of his marathon legal action against the National Maternity Hospital alleging negligence in the management of his birth. The hospital also faces a total legal bill of an estimated €4m.

The settlement in the case of Paul Fitzpatrick was made without admission of liability by the hospital which had denied negligence.

But because the High Court had last March found the hospital was liable for Paul’s injuries — a decision which the hospital has appealed to the Supreme Court — the Supreme Court will be asked next week to set aside the High Court finding on consent.