Injury Compensation News

In a strongly-worded open letter, the Irish Patients Association has today called on unions in the health service to avoid hurting patients during their industrial action.

The letter noted the fatal consequences of previous union activity: Following the death of a patient the family noted that the staff were more interested and focused on putting up notices for a lunch time protest rather than listening to their calls for urgent attention as their family members’ health chronically deteriorated.

The letter goes on to say that union protests cause “chaos for individual patients” and calls for a “balanced solution” to the problems in the health service.

The letter was sent to leaders of IMPACT, T.E.E.U, C.P.S.U, S.I.P.T.U, and I.C.T.U.

Hollie McNevin from Walkinstown Park, Dublin, has had a settlement of €25,000 approved by Judge Joseph Mathews of the Circuit Civil Court for a swimming pool injury.  At the age of nine years, McNevin slipped in the shower in the changing rooms of Templeogue College pool.  McNevin claimed that she hurt her foot on a broken plastic drain and therefore Templeogue College was responsible. The result was eight stitches and a parmanent scar on her foot.

Ben McHale, now four years old of Fethard Road, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, had a settlement of €2.9 million approved by Mr Justice John Quirke in the High Court for suffering blindness and brain injuries in a car accident.  The car was driven by the child’s mother, Disislave McHale, who was driving the car without insurance.  The case was taken against the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland since the car was not insured. As the plaintiff was underage, the case was taken by his uncle William McHale, acting as the “next friend” guardian.