An inquest into the death of a five-year-old girl in Galway in 2008 has found that her death was as a result of a medical accident.
Elaine Barrett from Claregalway suffered severe brain damage as a result of a magnesium overdose in her feed for premature babies. As a result, she needed round the clock care during her short life.
In a statement read after the inquest concluded, her parents Frank and Eileen said they will never get justice for their daughter.
However, they said the inquest has provided the answers they have been trying to get for seven years.
German pharmaceutical company B Braun Medical Ltd admitted human and technical error in the manufacturing of the product.
Frank and Eileen Barrett said they hoped that no other family would ever have to experience what they had gone through.
They said they had been left in the dark about how their daughter had been given 124 times the recommended dose of magnesium, which had devastating consequences.
Both Coroner Kieran McLoughlin and the Barrett family commended doctors at University Hospital Galway for their vigilance at all times.
2003
In April 2003, Elaine was born in Holles Street Hospital at 26 weeks and weighing just 1lb 4 ounces.
She was under the care of Consultant Paediatrician, Dr Kevin Dunne.
When Elaine fell seriously ill after being administered one particular pack of the feed, Dr Dunne had the fluid from the bag analysed and the magnesium overdose was confirmed.
MD of B Braun Medical Paul Mullaly admitted that a mistake had been made as a result of human and technical error.
He explained how an interruption in the production process together with a change in personnel had resulted in an adult dosage being erroneously fed into Elaine's bag tailor made for her.
Mr Mullaly apologised to the Barretts on behalf of the company.
Coroner McLoughlin said he had taken into account the fact that B Braun Medical has put procedures in place to ensure that something like this would never happen again.
He particularly welcomed the change in operational practice, which means there is no longer a mixing of the manufacture of adult and paediatric products.
He also said that the Irish Medicines Board should have made some contact with the family when the product under investigation had been licensed by them.
It is understood a settlement has been agreed between the family and B Braun Medical, but the details have still to be finalised by the High Court.
