Boy, 13, settles action against doctor for €2.5m

A 13-year-old boy who is brain-damaged and confined to a wheelchair has settled for €2.5m in his High Court action for alleged medical negligence against a Galway GP.

It was claimed that Enda Brien’s mother Jenny was 37 weeks pregnant when she suddenly developed severe pain under her left ribs. She was diagnosed with lower back pain and given painkillers by her GP. But within 12 hours, her placenta had come away and by the time the baby was born, he was brain-damaged.

The settlement against Dr Patrick O’Brien, with a practice at Kiltormer, Co Galway, was without admission of liability.