Early mediation ‘could cut State’s €500m compo bill’

THE State’s potential €500 million compensation bill for medical negligence claims could be “hugely reduced” if people were dealt with in an open and transparent way, a health law specialist has said.

Raymond Bradley, managing partner of Malcomson Law solicitors, a leading health law firm, said the State Claims Agency (SCA), which handles actions taken against the Government, often allows proceedings to drag on unnecessarily, resulting in higher legal costs.

Mr Bradley said there was a culture of making people feel like they’re in the wrong, and maintains the SCA is not interested in mediation, but prefers to settle just before the case is about to be heard.