Woman to pursue claim over alleged defective hip

A woman who has sued over an alleged defective hip resurfacing system may pursue her claim via an action initiated three years ago and which was authorised by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, the Court of Appeal has directed.

Randa Murphy had brought two sets of proceedings against the system manufacturers, a 2011 case for which she had no PIAB authorisation and a 2012 case that had such authorisation.

Regarded as a test appeal with implications for other Irish cases, she appealed a High Court ruling that her 2011 case required PIAB authorisation before it could proceed to hearing.

Ms Murphy, of Ennis, Co Clare, has sued DePuy International Ltd, owned by Johnson & Johnson, over an allegedly defective hip resurfacing system inserted in 2005.

Ms Murphy’s appeal did not proceed to hearing yesterday after DePuy said it would not take procedural steps to prevent Ms Murphy pursuing her claim via her separate proceedings initiated in 2012.