Cerebral palsy teen’s lump-sum payout plea

Family wants case finalised to end ‘angst, anxiety and disruption’

The mother of a young man with cerebral palsy yesterday pleaded with a High Court judge to allow the court case to finally finish with a lump- sum payout, describing the last four years coming back to court for interim payouts as “horrendous”.

Connor Corroon, now 19, wants his case finalised with a lump-sum payout for his future care needs as the legislation to allow for periodic payments for the catastrophically injured pledged by ministers for justice is still not in place.

The High Court heard that Connor, of Copsetown, Mallow, Co Cork, suffered catastrophic injuries during his birth at City General Hospital, Cork, in 1995. He is permanently disabled, cannot speak, and will require care for the rest of his life. Four years ago, he was given an interim payment of more than €1.6m as part settlement of his medical negligence action against the hospital and a consultant obstetrician. Another payout of €475,000 was made last year. Liability by the hospital was conceded.

“I see his angst, anxiety and the disruption to his daily life. He has to perform again and again in assessments by different experts. It is the humiliation,” Connor’s mother Judith Corroon told Mr Justice Bernard Barton.

She said her son, who hopes to go to university, does not want to have a “fishbowl” life where he has had to undergo more than 20 assessments by different experts.

Connor’s case, the first case to be adjourned four years ago as the High Court waited for the periodic payments legislation, is regarded as a test case.

The court was told yesterday that a periodic payment over a five-year period could be considered in Connor’s case. Counsel for the Corroons, John O’Mahony SC, said the family wanted a lump-sum payment but would be willing once the periodic payment legislation was introduced to return to court have Connor’s future care needs reviewed.

Mr Justice Barton said he would consider the question of periodic payments or a lump-sum payment over the weekend and said it was a very serious decision.

The case continues on Tuesday.