Woman seeks for 'lost' inheritance to be considered in medical-negligence case

A woman’s claim that she and her family were deprived of a €1.5m farm inheritance as a result of fatal medical negligence has been described in the High Court as "entirely novel".

Doctors who treated her late husband Michael Davoren for colitis at University College Hospital, Galway have admitted liability.

The late Michael Davoren passed away in 2003 leaving behind his wife Maura and their four children.

An only son, he had worked all his life on the family farm and was due to inherit it.

However, he predeceased his mother and when she passed on in 2006, she left the 623-acre farm to her daughter.

Michael Davoren’s widow Grace from Ballyvaughan in Co Clare believes that she and her family have lost out on their €1.5m inheritance as a result of her husband’s premature death.

Two doctors who treated the 47-year-old for colitis admit medical negligence and she wants the judge to consider the inheritance issue when assessing damages in a claim described today in court as "entirely novel".