€18k for baby hurt two days before birth

A baby girl, who was injured in a car accident two days before she was born, has been awarded almost €18,000 for personal injury damages.

Judge Matthew Deery in the Circuit Civil Court heard Aoife Sheehan, now 14, was still in her mother’s womb when the accident occurred in Apr 1999.

Her mother, Martina Sheehan, was just over 36 weeks’ pregnant and driving the family car when another car crashed into her in Rathfarnham, Dublin.

The crash induced an early onset of labour, which resulted in a pre-term birth, leading to Aoife suffering respiratory distress syndrome.

Barrister John Martin told Judge Deery that within a few hours of birth, the child had been admitted to the intensive care unit in the Coombe Hospital. By the evening of the birth, Apr 15, 1999, the severity of her respiratory distress had increased and mechanical ventilation had to be initiated. She required medication to support her circulatory system.

Aoife, through her mother, who lives at Scholarstown Rd, Rathfarnham, Dublin, had sued the owner of the other car involved in the crash, Elaine O’Connor of Orlagh Rise, Scholarstown Rd.

Mr Martin said that the defendants had offered a settlement of €15,000 general damages, together with €2,800 special damages, and he was recommending approval of the offer by the court.