Boy's parents would give back €30m 'in a heartbeat' if errors around his birth could be erased

The case of Oran Molloy is likely to have far-reaching implications for other similar cases, in particular in relation to the rate of return

(Left to right) Deirdre and Adrian Molloy, the parents of Oran Molloy, outside the High Court today. The court heard Oran Molloy’s settlement is the largest recovery of damages in a birth injury case in this jurisdiction. Photo: Collins Courts

A 14-year-old boy with cerebral palsy who sued over the circumstances of his birth at a Galway hospital has settled his High Court action for €30 million.

Oran Molloy from Birr, Co Offaly has spastic diplegia which affects all four limbs.

Oran’s Counsel, Denis McCullough SC, told the court the boy’s settlement which was reached after mediation is the largest recovery of damages in a birth injury case in this jurisdiction. The mediation talks, counsel said, were “protracted and difficult.” 

Counsel said the boy, when he was five years old, had surgery in the US which was financed by local fundraising and he could then take some steps with crutches. However, his mobility has since lessened.

The court heard under the settlement agreement the boy will have a Special Needs Assistant at school. Oran hopes to become an electrical engineer.

He had sued the HSE over injuries suffered during his birth at Portiuncula University Hospital, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, on December 31, 2006. Liability was admitted in the case last month.

Outside court Gillian O’Connor solicitor on behalf of Oran’s parents, Adrian and Deirdre Molloy, said while €30 million was a lot of money “the Molloys would give it back in a heartbeat” if only the night of December 31 when Oran was born and injured at birth “could be changed and the errors erased”. 

Only three weeks before the trial date she said liability was admitted in the case and the HSE then sought to adjourn the case for four years. Ms O’Connor said they had asked for an annual payment linked to wage inflation but this was refused and so the Molloys were obliged to go for a lump sum.

“This is the highest award but justifiably so and is about €12 million more than what is normally awarded,” she said. She said this was because it represents, in the Molloy legal team’s view, a negative real rate of return of minus 1.5% and not up to plus 1.5% which was determined in the Irish courts seven years ago.

The case of Oran Molloy, the High Court previously heard, is likely to have far-reaching implications for other similar cases, in particular in relation to the rate of return.

Circumstances around Oran Molloy's birth

Oran Molloy, of Riverstown, Birr, Co. Offaly, had through his mother Deirdre Molloy sued the HSE over the circumstances of his birth at Portiuncula University Hospital, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, on December 31, 2006.

Ms Molloy’s pregnancy was initially uncomplicated but in November 2006 she suffered an antepartum haemorrhage and was admitted to hospital. The baby, after a scan, was noted to be healthy and the mother was advised to rest.

Ms Molloy was assessed on a weekly basis after her discharge from hospital. On December 30, Ms Molloy had another haemorrhage and was taken by ambulance to hospital where CTG monitoring of the baby’s heartbeat was begun. She was brought to the labour ward.

Ms Molloy suffered another antepartum haemorrhage at around 2.30am on December 31 and a decision to have an emergency caesarean section was made. When delivered baby Oran was noted to be flat and he required intensive resuscitation with intubation and ventilation.

Oran Molloy's claims

It was claimed there was a failure to carry out any or any proper monitoring of Ms Molloy and her baby in the course of her labour and delivery and the CTG trace was discontinued when it ought not to have done so.

It was further claimed an unsafe set of conditions was allowed to persist during the course of labour and it should have been known it would cause damage and injury to baby Oran.

It was also claimed that having regard to the non-reassuring features of the CTG traces and Ms Molloy’s clinical presentation a conservative management of the mother took place and followed a very relaxed approach to the issue of foetal monitoring and the delivery of the baby. There was also, it was claimed, a failure to recognise the baby was suffering with severe hypoxic ischaemia as a result of prolonged foetal distress and to deal with it in a proper and timely manner or at all.

Liability was admitted in the case last month.

Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said he had little hesitation in approving it and conveyed his best wishes to Oran and his parents.