Elderly Cork man died after week-long delay in acting on X-ray showing swallowed dentures

The HSE admitted failures in care after a week-long delay in acting on an X-ray showing swallowed dentures

The dentures were removed nine days after Mr O'Leary was brought to hospital, court heard. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

The HSE has apologised to the family of an elderly man who died with choking complications after it took a hospital a week to act on an X-ray that showed he had swallowed his own dentures.

The apology for the diagnosis delay, and for other failings in the care afforded to Daniel O’Leary, 91, originally of Knockbrack, Banteer, Co Cork, was issued on behalf of the HSE and University Hospital Limerick (UHL) and read out in the High Court in Cork on Wednesday, where Ms Justice Carmel Stewart approved an award of €55,000 to Mr O'Leary's family.