The family of a five-year-old boy who suffered an acute brain injury at birth have settled their High Court action against the Coombe Hospital for €19 million.
Adam Dediu and his twin brother, David, were delivered by Caesarean section two days before Christmas 2016. The court was told the surgery was delayed because of the unavailability of an operating theatre.
David was delivered first. The court heard Adam's head was deeply engaged in the pelvis and there was extreme difficulty extracting it and a long delay before his delivery. He suffered a severe head injury and has been left with permanent and profound difficulties.
Senior Counsel, Richard Keane, told the court that Adam had a "myriad of ongoing problems".
Liability in the case was admitted last year and the settlement was approved by Mr Justice Paul Coffey in the High Court.
Solicitor Caoimhe Haughey said the money would be used to improve the family's accommodation and give their son Adam all the help he needed.
His mother Loredana Dediu said Adam was "a happy guy". She said she would love for him to walk and speak but, unfortunately, his life was not going to be as great as it should be.
She said he would not be able to play with his brother or to do anything for most of the time.
She said she and her husband Silviu were glad the legal proceedings were finished. And that hopefully they would now have all the means for Adam to have a better life.
