A teenager from Northern Ireland who suffered serious brain damage when he was born had been awarded a compensation payout of up to £3.5million.
The boy’s parents sued the health board involved over a botched delivery procedure. The board has finally agreed to settle the 17-year-long legal battle.
The settlement is thought to be one of the largest of it’s kind in Northern Ireland.
The teenager now suffers from cerebral palsy due to being starved of oxygen during his birth at the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald in 1992. He cannot be named for legal reasons.
His parents made their claim for compensation against the former Eastern Health and Social Services Board, alleging negligence caused his birth injury.
He was apparently in a distressed state within his mother’s womb and his parents claimed he should have been delivered quicker.
It was alleged that delaying his birth deprived him of oxygen and caused his brain injuries.
The case was due to be heard at the High Court in Belfast after several years of legal wrangling.
However, negotiations took place and a settlement was reached with the EHSSB’s successor, the regional Health and Social Care Board.
The settlement dictates that the board pay a one-off lump sum of almost £1.5m to the 17-year-old.
In addition, they are obligated to make annual payments of £115,000 to help cover the costs of the boy’s care for the rest of his life.
The family’s injury solicitor, Ernie Telford, gave a prediction of what the overall damages were likely to be.
He said: “The two figures together are likely to give a total settlement of around £3.5m.
“The boy’s mother and father are absolutely delighted with the outcome. This is a vindication for their 17-year legal battle,” he said.
