A TWELVE-YEAR-OLD boy who was left paralysed after being treated for meningitis has been awarded €3.8 million in a settlement with the HSE.
Matthew McGrath was left without the use of his arms and legs after contracting the illness when he was 17 months old.
The interim payment will cover five years of care for Matthew.
Wexford General Hospital has admitted liability in the case. Matthew had been referred to the hospital in May 2004 by his GP. He was admitted at midnight, but meningitis was not diagnosed.
A lumbar puncture the following morning led to a collapse in the brain and a compromised spinal cord, leaving Matthew paralysed.
He requires permanent ventilation and 24-hour care. The court ordered payment will be reviewed at the end of the five years of care.
A statement from the McGrath family says that they are happy with the admission of liability.
The statement in full:
Today signifies the end of the fight for us, but we’re still on the same road we were on. There is a certain unexpected peace in their admittance of liability for their error and damage caused. Life is still the same but we don’t have to take on the system as well as dealing with the daily challenges of caring for Matthew.This ensures Matthew continues to receive the excellent care he has been receiving at home since 2006 without the worry of being subject to budget cuts.We as a family recognise and thank all who have given Matthew such excellent care over the past years, in particular Crumlin Children’s Hospital, our local GP, all our home care nurses and all the staff and suppliers with the HSE.Last but not least to Roger Murray and his team at Callan Tansey, we thank them for believing in us from the beginning and instilling in us the confidence to pursue this outcome today.
RTÉ reports that Matthew spoke to the judge in court, saying he was happy to be at home and happy with his settlement.
Originally published 4pm
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