The Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital in Dublin has apologised to a teenage boy who has autism for failings in the care given to him after his birth.
The apology was issued as the boy settled a High Court case for €15m.
It is the largest settlement in a case where a link between autism and brain injury was sought to be established, according to the family's lawyers.
The court was told the boy, who cannot be identified, developed an infection and meningitis after his birth and hearing loss and developmental delays were detected in the months afterwards.
He was later diagnosed with autism.
Senior Counsel Dr John O'Mahony said the case centred on an alleged delay in recognising and treating the signs of infection after his delivery.
Dr O'Mahony told the court it was their case that at 15 hours the baby's infection should have been identified and treated, and if this had happened he would not have suffered meningitis.
It was claimed there was a failure to respond to maternal evidence of infection as a factor in treating the baby with antibiotics and a failure to rule out meningitis.
It was further claimed there was a failure to urgently seek the opinion of a paediatrician and to administer antibiotics in time.
Liability was conceded for some of the case, but the claims in relation to autism were denied, the court was told.
In a letter to the family, the Master of the Coombe Hospital Professor Michael O'Connell on behalf of the staff offered sincere apologies "for the failings in care that caused injury".
The letter added: "We in the hospital understand and sincerely regret that our failings in care have led to lifelong consequences not only for (the boy) but also for his parents and family."
Mr Justice Paul Coffey approved the settlement and wished the family well.
