Mr. Justice John Quirke has approved a €2 million High Court settlement in the birth injury case of Sean Walsh of Naas, County Kildare, against the The Coombe Women’s Hospital in Dublin. In the claim against the hospital, it was alleged that when Sean´s mother was admitted to the hospital for the birth of her son on November 18 2003, the hospital failed to take account of abnormalities showing on a CTG trace during her labour. Consequently, the delivery proceeded without the assistance of forceps, resulting in the alleged likelihood of umbilical cord depression. It was further alleged that Sean was born with severe permanent disabilities and was noted to have quadriplegic cerebral palsy at the age of eighteen months. Despite The Coombe Women´s Hospital denying the claims, Mr. Justice John Quirke approved the settlement without admission of liability.
As child injury compensation settlements have always to be approved in court, Mr Justice John Quirke used the opportunity to pay tribute to Sean´s parents for their perseverance. Sean, who is now seven years of age, had sued the hospital through his mother Nuala, and an application has been made to make Sean a ward of court.