HSE takes five years to admit liability

A High Court judge yesterday said it was “highly regrettable” it took the HSE five years to admit liability in the case of a little boy who was catastrophically injured at his birth at Waterford Regional Hospital.

Approving an €8.5m settlement in the case of Dylan Gaffney Hayes, Ms Justice Mary Irvine said she rarely made a comment on the conduct of a defendant, but this was the second case this week where a defendant held off admitting responsibility for years for injuries caused to a baby at birth.

“Putting it at its mildest form, I think it is highly regrettable the HSE for whatever reason was not in a position to take responsibility until June 2012, five years after the birth,” she said.