More news from the courts in brief.
Boy awarded €415,000 for mother's death
A 10-year-old boy, whose mother died in Dublin's Mater hospital five years ago, has secured €415,000 in settlement of his High Court action against the hospital.
It was claimed the hospital failed to deal with and treat Teresa Foley (37), who had a history of auto- immune disorder, with sufficient urgency and failed to diagnose that she presented in a septic state when she arrived at the accident and emergency unit.
Mr Justice Richard Johnson yesterday approved the settlement figure in favour of Patrick Foley, who had sued through his guardian and aunt Pamela Foley, Kincora Road, Clontarf, Dublin, arising from the death of his mother at the Mater hospital on February 26th, 2001.
It was claimed that at 1.50pm on that day, owing to the alleged negligence and breach of duty on the part of the hospital in the treatment afforded Teresa Foley, that she was caused or occasioned to suffer cardio- respiratory arrest as a result of which she died.
The hospital, at Eccles Street, Dublin, had denied the claims.
Ms Foley, a single mother, had a past history of systemic lupus erythematosus, an auto-immune disorder which was diagnosed when she was 19. She underwent a splenectomy in her early 20s and was prescribed maintenance steroids.
Recommending the settlement yesterday, Denis McCullough SC, for Patrick, said he was the only child of Teresa Foley, who was a personal assistant at an insurance brokers. The extended Foley family had waived their rights in favour of Patrick, the judge was also told.
Court told of pain after vasectomy
A father of seven has told the High Court that he contemplated taking his own life because of the pain and misery he endured following a vasectomy operation carried out by a doctor in Dublin 17 years ago. John Winston (47) broke down in the witness box yesterday as he told of the pain he has suffered.
Mr Winston, Ratoath Avenue, Finglas West, Dublin, is suing Dr Niall O'Leary over the vasectomy carried out at Dr O'Leary's surgery in Finglas on July 15th, 1989. He claims there was a failure to warn him before the operation that there was a risk of contracting post-vasectomy pain syndrome.
Since the vasectomy, Mr Winston claims he sought treatment for constant severe pain from his GP, the Mater hospital and the Blackrock Clinic in Dublin, from specialists in England and the US. In the US his left testicle was removed and he continues to have serious pain in his remaining right testes. He told the court he plans to have more surgery.
Dr O'Leary is denying negligence.
Sentences for robbery adjourned
Two drug-addicted men who robbed another man who was in the process of acquiring the services of a prostitute have had their sentences adjourned at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Judge Bryan McMahon said drug addictions had wreaked havoc on their lives.
Seán Cahill (27) and James Gavin (24) threatened the victim with a knife and robbed him of €400.
The defendants, previously of Fatima Mansions, Rialto, pleaded guilty to robbery at Fatima Mansions on July 21st, 2004.
Garda Patrick Casey told Martina Baxter, prosecuting, that the victim had been studying and working in Ireland for less than a year when he went to Fitzwilliam Square. He approached a woman for sex and the pair took a taxi to Fatima Mansions.
She climbed in a window and then let him in the front door. The defendants burst into the room and demanded to know what he was doing there.
Cahill put a kitchen knife to his victim's elbow as Gavin pulled his arm behind his back.