An autistic child who "knew nothing of the world" and was like someone "dropped from outer space" has made significant progress since receiving appropriate education, the High Court heard yesterday.
Mr Justice Kelly praised the parents of Barney O'Connor (8), of Ballykelly Stud, Cashel, Co Tipperary, who had "gone to extraordinary lengths" to try to provide for the child's needs out of their own resources.
When they were unable to find an appropriate school for him, they had provided a tuition unit, based on the method of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), in a Portakabin on their lands.
The tragedy was that the child's parents had had to come to the High Court and, on the day of the trial of the child's action against the State, had obtained the child's entitlements, the judge remarked.
Since the home-based programme began in January 2000, Barney has made significant progress, his mother, Ms Mary O'Connor, told the judge.
Before that, he knew nothing of the world and was like someone dropped in from outer space. He had no language or motor skills. He was now much more self-sufficient and could ask for something he wanted.
It had been a long and hard struggle to get to this stage but she was happy with the settlement of Barney's action against the Minister for Education and the State.
The settlement includes a payment of some €85,000 to the O'Connors, which represents 80 per cent of the monies they have spent to date on providing education for Barney. The State will also pay the legal costs of the action.
The terms of settlement also involve agreement by the State to pay the costs of operating a special tuition unit for Barney and to meet the costs of the child attending the CABAS (Cork Applied Behaviour Analysis School) one day a week. Occupational and speech and language therapy will also be provided or funded.
The terms specifically state that the Minister for Education does not acknowledge any ongoing obligation to Barney beyond the age of 18.
Approving the settlement, presented by Mr Michael Gleeson SC, instructed by Ernest Cantillon, solicitor, Mr Justice Kelly said one could only stand in awe and admiration at how Barney's parents had tried to provide for his needs.