The High Court has approved a settlement of €3.75 million in the case of a boy who sued the HSE over the treatment he received in intensive care after he was born prematurely.
Kyle Flavin, a twin, from Listowel in Co Kerry was born at 27-weeks' gestation at University Hospital Limerick in April 2016.
The case was settled without admission of liability.
Senior Counsel Liam Reidy told the court the case related to Kyle's care in the maternity hospital ICU. He said Kyle was given Vitamin K and it was noted later he had bruising and later a bleed on one side of his brain.
It was the plaintiff's case the baby was given more Vitamin K and it was their contention this was the wrong course of action and alleged he suffered a pulmonary haemorrhage and another brain bleed.
He said their expert witnesses would say the baby should have been given fresh frozen plasma for a problem with clotting.
All the claims were denied and the HSE said the clinical care provided to address the boy's extreme prematurity and early complications was appropriate and in keeping with acceptable clinical care standards.
Kyle’s mother Anita Flavin told the court the settlement was better than taking a chance by going to trial. She said while it was a large amount of money it was not what they had hoped for as he was very young and his future was uncertain. "We fear the unknown," she said.
She said when her twins were born, Kyle was slightly smaller than his brother, but he was a fighter and she and her husband Paul thought Kyle was the stronger baby at the time.
She said Kyle "is still fighting and doing well" and goes to the same school as his brother.
The settlement was approved by Mr Justice Paul Coffey who wished the family well.
