‘Had Richard received the proper care he would still be alive today’

Richard de Souza’s parents brought him to hospital complaining with chicken pox. He was sent home with a prescription.

Just 18 hours later, the 8-year-old was dead, leaving his family devastated.

An infection had taken hold of the boy’s body and toxins overwhelmed him. Yesterday in the High Court, Richard’s parents wept as the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, apologised and expressed “sincere sympathy and regret” at the tragic death of their eldest son on Feb 7, 2011, from a streptococcal infection.