Mother gets €170k for seeing child die of meningitis

THE High Court has awarded over €170,000 to the mother of a two-year-old girl who died after contracting meningitis.

Yesterday, Mr Justice Iarfhlaith Ó Néill ruled that Natalie Courtney, 28, was entitled to damages of €150,000 as a result of the injuries she suffered from witnessing the shocking and tragic death of her daughter Aisling at Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin.

She was also entitled to the costs of legal representation at the inquest into the child’s death.

Ms Courtney sued the hospital for nervous shock arising out of Aisling’s death on February 19, 2006.

Liability had been admitted and the case was before the court for assessment of damages only.

Ms Courtney, a mother of three, of Galtymore Close, Drimnagh, claimed she suffered injuries, including depressive injuries, as a result of witnessing her child’s death.

The judge accepted Ms Courtney’s life had “changed utterly” since Aisling’s death