Family awarded €35,000 after death of baby son at UHL

A family has received the maximum statutory payment of €35,000 after their newborn son, Padraig O'Donnell, died just four hours after birth at University Hospital Limerick. The baby was born on June 18, 2022.

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We know that words cannot begin to capture the devastation and grief you are experiencing.

Leanne O’Brien and Patrick O’Donnell, along with other family members, were awarded the sum for mental distress. Separately, the family reached a confidential settlement with HSE Midwest last month through mediation for other legal proceedings.

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I wish to acknowledge, without reservation, that there were failings in the standard of care provided to you and your baby Padraig. We take full responsibility for these failings and we are truly sorry.

The case against the HSE alleged failures in due skill, care, and attention, including not performing an emergency caesarean birth. The HSE issued a profound apology, acknowledging failings in the standard of care provided to the baby and parents. Ian Carter, CEO of HSE Midwest Acute and Older People Services, stated that the organization takes full responsibility and is committed to learning from the incident through practice reviews, process changes, and staff training.

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Padraig was perfect. We baptized him. Our families came to meet him, and then we had to let him go. No parent should ever have to do both of those things in the same breath.

Speaking after the judgment, Ms. O’Brien shared the profound grief the family has endured for four years, emphasizing that while the settlement cannot bring Padraig back, hearing that he was failed and his death was preventable means a great deal. She noted the settlement falling on the anniversary of his passing adds a layer of difficulty but feels appropriate. The family pursued the case hoping to make the environment safer for future babies, stating, "If even one baby is safer because of what we have done, then his short life will have changed things for the better."

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For four years, we have carried that mourning with us. The grief has not faded. People say that time heals, it doesn't. You just learn to carry it, we carry Padraig with us every single day.