Judge asks sides in spinal surgery controversy to put health of girl 'to the forefront'

The family, at last, were told that a rod that had been inserted into the girl' s spine had become infected, and had to be removed, counsel said

The girl is one of 19 children who were the subject of a report on patients with Spina Bifida who underwent spiral surgery at Temple Street. File photo: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

A High Court judge has said that the health of a young girl at the centre of a legal row over the disclosure of medical records in relation to her spinal surgery should be "to the forefront".

The remarks were made by Mr Justice Mark Sanfey on Wednesday, when proceedings brought by the girl's family against Children's Health Ireland (CHI), returned before the court. The girl who cannot be named for legal reasons, has Spina Bifida, and underwent an operation on her spine at Temple Street.