€1.45m interim award for Ruby

A seven-year-old girl who has cerebral palsy after her mother suffered from pre-enclampsia symptoms but was not referred to hospital, has settled her High Court action with a €1.45 million interim payment.

Ruby Leanne McCandless has diskinetic cerebral palsy and will need care for the rest of her life.

Senior Counsel Des O’Neill told the High Court Ruby’s mother, Christina McDaid who had high blood pressure at the end of her pregnancy should have been referred to hospital immediately where her blood pressure would have been monitored.

Ruby Leanne McCandless, Foxwood, Gleneely, Co Donegal had sued through her mother, Christina McDaid, the HSE in relation to the care Ms McDaid received at the end of her pregnancy in 2006.

It was claimed there was a failure to diagnose and treat Ms McDaid’s pre-eclampsia at the earliest reasonable opportunity and a failure to have her admitted to hospital to have her high blood pressure properly monitored and managed. It was further claimed there was a failure to warn Ms McDaid that she should have her blood pressure checked again should she develop headaches and nausea and a failure in all the circumstances to treat a woman with high blood pressure appropriately.

The case was before the court for assessment of damages only.

The interim payment includes care for the next four years when the case will come back to court when Ruby’s needs will be further assessed.