A 12-year-old boy who has cerebral palsy, is brain-damaged and wheelchair bound is to be paid €4.5 million and costs in settlement of his High Court action for negligence.
It was claimed Paraic Comber's mother was administered too much of the drug Syntocinon, which is used to induce labour, during his birth at Limerick Maternity Hospital and that this caused the child to suffer severe deprivation of oxygen to the brain.
The action was brought by Paraic, suing by his mother, Deirdre Comber of Mullagh, Co Clare, against the Mid Western Health Board.
The board was sued as being responsible for the medical treatment Paraic and his mother received at Limerick Maternity Hospital, known as St Munchin's, Limerick, between June 1992 and the date of his birth in early April 1993.
Liability in the action was conceded on July 4th last and the hearing had proceeded before Mr Justice Declan Budd as an assessment of damages only.
Paraic is the eldest of a family of seven children of Mrs Comber, who is a secondary school teacher at St Joseph's, Spanish Point, Co Clare, and her husband, Patrick Comber, who is principal teacher at Cloghanbeg primary school, near their home.
Out of the Eu4.5 million, a sum of €250,000 is to go to the boy's parents for expenses to date, which included certain work to the family home to suit Paraic. The greatest part of the €4.5 million is for Paraic's care in the future.