State mothballed medical negligence study

A government group tasked with finding a transparent alternative to lengthy multimillion-euro medical negligence cases was abruptly mothballed five years ago — over claims a new system would cost too much.

Solicitor Michael Boylan told the Irish Examiner the work of Department of Health’s “birth hypoxia” advisory committee was halted in 2008 after the Department of Finance intervened.

The group, which examined cases identical to yesterday’s €2.6m payout to cerebral palsy sufferer Roisin Conroy, was established in 2004 and asked to find a way to create a “no fault” compensation system for birth-related medical negligence cases.