€100k for woman who had baby after sterilisation

A Limerick woman who became pregnant following a failed sterilisation and gave birth to a baby who died months later has been awarded €100,000 in High Court damages.

Mother of two Karen Hurley-Ahern, aged 41, was shocked to find herself pregnant because she had a blood clotting disorder and had decided not to have any more children because of potential risks. She later gave birth to a severely disabled baby boy, Samuel, who died nearly six months later.

She and her husband Garret Ahern sued consultant gynaecologist Dr Victor Moore — who carried out the sterilisation procedure in Tralee General Hospital, Co Kerry, in Feb 2001 — and the Southern Health Board, now the HSE.