State Claims Agency pays out more than €1.4bn in settlements in last four years

Medical negligence cases are typically tragic in nature, with patients and their families accessing the courts system in order to secure reparations for often catastrophic medical events involving their loved ones. Despite this, the overwhelming majority of those cases taken are settled outside of court. File picture: PA Photo/iStock

The State Claims Agency (SCA) has paid out more than €1.4bn in just four years since the start of 2021 in settling medical negligence or service-failure-related claims, according to stark new figures.

All told €1.440bn has been paid out in that time via a combination of legal costs for both the agency and plaintiffs, expert costs, and – overwhelmingly – damages.