Today's other stories in brief
Family of heart disease victim get €302,500
The family of a 39-year-old man who died of heart problems some six months after being treated with aspirin following assessment in a Co Dublin hospital as having "atypical chest pain", have received €302,500 in settlement of their High Court action against the Health Service Executive (HSE).
It was claimed St Columcille’s Hospital, Loughlinstown, at the time of Alan Cummins’s admission in 2004, was negligent and should have diagnosed his condition as requiring urgent in-patient investigation and/or surgical intervention.
Mr Cummins’s wife Hazel, of Kilbride Grove, Bray, Co Wicklow, had brought proceedings on behalf of her family over his death. The HSE conceded liability. It was claimed Mr Cummins, a security guard, had on June 9th, 2004 attended his GP complaining of severe chest pain. He was referred to the accident and emergency department of St Columcille’s Hospital. On June 10th, an assessment took place and he was given some aspirin.
Examining doctors concluded he was suffering from “atypical chest pain” and later discharged him back to the care of his GP.
On December 23rd, 2004, while he was working, Mr Cummins collapsed and was found dead by a work colleague. An inquest concluded his death was due to heart disease.
Ex-lover to pay woman 45,000
A woman who was offered a €70,000 break-up settlement by her live-in boyfriend two years ago, was yesterday awarded €45,000 as her share of the €240,000 home they shared together.
The couple, now living with new partners in Co Wicklow and Co Meath, clashed in the Circuit Civil Court yesterday over why their seven-year relationship collapsed.
Jennifer Gibson told Judge Jacqueline Linnane she finally left the couple’s home at The Grove, Hunters Run, Clonee, Co Meath, because of her partner’s violence towards her.
Francis Boyne, still living at The Grove, said the relationship broke up because Ms Gibson had been carrying on an affair with another man.
Judge Linnane heard that Mr Boyne, a €62,000-a-year taxi driver, had paid all mortgage repayments and some bills. Ms Gibson, a €26,000-a-year receptionist, claimed she had paid gas, electricity and other bills.
Judge Linnane said it had been suggested Mr Boyne at all times paid mortgage payments, insurances and other bills. Ms Gibson claimed she paid utilities and other household bills.
Taking into account the contribution Mr Boyne made off the purchase price and because he had been solely responsible for the mortgages since Ms Gibson moved out, Judge Linnane felt the proper order was for him to pay Ms Gibson €45,000 within six months for her interest in the property.
IRA membership case adjourned
The trial of a Dundalk man accused of IRA membership almost five years ago was adjourned until the end of July at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday, after the court was told that a High Court order was
granted stopping it proceeding pending a legal challenge.
Barry O’Brien (35), of Mountain Court, Dundalk, Co Louth, pleaded not guilty last week to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army on April 6th, 2004. A High Court order was granted on Monday putting a stay on the trial pending a judicial review.