A young woman with cerebral palsy who sued the HSE over complications with her birth has had her case settled today for €6 million.
Nadine Wilkin, aged 20, from Manorcunningham, took High Court action against the HSE through her mother Judith Wilkin.
The court heard that Nadine suffered brain damage following her birth at Letterkenny General Hospital in 1996. It was claimed that there was a delay of up to two hours in the carrying out of a caesarean section on Nadine’s mother, which caused her to suffer a deprivation of oxygen.
It was claimed that this delay, combined with an alleged failure to treat her birth complications as an emergency, caused her to become severely disabled. The HSE did not admit to any liability.
The court heard that Nadine has dyskinetic cerebral palsy and requires 24-hour care and must use a wheelchair. The family’s counsel, Denis McCullough SC, said that Nadine was a “bright young woman”.
The settlement was approved without hesitation by Mr Justice Kevin Cross in order to take care of her needs.
A statement from the family said the settlement has given them the comfort to know that Nadine will receive everything that she needs to make her life more comfortable and she will be looked after for the rest of her life.