University Hospital Galway has apologised to the family of a girl who died shortly after her birth.
UHG expressed its condolences and apologised for shortcomings in the obstetric care provided during the delivery of Ailbhe Gilligan five years ago.
Anna and Gerard Gilligan, of Oranmore, Co Galway, sued the HSE over the death of their daughter on 27 October 2020.
Barrister Doireann O'Mahony told the court it was a "tragic and devastating case".
The court heard that CTG monitoring of the baby's heart rate was deficient and at times there was no monitoring of the baby's heart rate and the little girl allegedly suffered a brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen.
Attempts to resuscitate her failed and she died an hour after she was born.
Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said that it was a very sad and tragic case and he conveyed his deepest sympathy to Ailbhe's parents and the extended family.
High Court settlement 'bittersweet' says baby girl's parents
In a statement read to the court, the hospital acknowledged the shortcomings in obstetric care and apologised.
It added: "We understand that this statement cannot change or negate your loss, but wish to convey our deepest sympathies to you and to Ailbhe’s extended family."
In their High Court case, the baby's parents claimed if she had been delivered earlier, resuscitation would have been successful and she would not have died but would have survived.
It was claimed there was a failure to have in place proper continuous CTG monitoring and early signs of foetal distress had been overlooked.
The HSE denied that the death of Ailbhe was caused solely and entirely by the admitted breach of duty.
Speaking outside the court, Mr Gilligan said that it was "a very bittersweet feeling" to have the case concluded.
"We've been a long time getting here. It's been dragged out for nearly five years now at this stage so we're very happy to have this resolved and have been issued an apology.
"But at the end of the day our daughter Ailbhe's still gone and this won't change any of that.
"It's had a massive effect on us throughout all aspects of our lives, even home life, but we now have two more kids we were lucky enough to have. Even that is tinged with her memory and her loss.
"All that we can hope is to talk today and hopefully, if it has happened to other people, that's also highlighted because at some point real changes need to be made to prevent other families being damaged in the same way," Mr Gilligan said.
