A 31-year-old woman has the mental age of a child after she suffered massive brain damage following a routine hospital operation, the High Court in Belfast heard yesterday.
"No one ever gave us any explanation as to what happened," the woman's mother said in evidence about the events 26 years ago which left Ms Fiona McVeigh physically and mentally handicapped.
Mrs Mary McVeigh, of Owenvarragh Park, Belfast, has brought a claim for damages on her daughter's behalf against the Eastern Health Board, which denies liability.
Opening the case, Mr Peter Smith QC said Miss McVeigh, who was not in court, was coming up to her fifth birthday in 1971 when she had the operation in the Royal Victoria Hospital to eliminate the narrowing of a heart artery.
"The operation went very well and Fiona ought to have recovered to lead a normal life," he said.
But she subsequently suffered massive brain damage which had left her severely and permanently handicapped, both physically and mentally. "This could only have been the result of the negligence of those responsible for her care in hospital," said Mr Smith.
He said hospital records for the crucial period - the aftermath of the operation - were either missing or of such poor standard that it was not possible to get a clear picture of what happened.
He said Miss McVeigh has a mental age of four to five. Although she could feed herself very slowly she required help to dress and bath and needed constant supervision.
"She responds to family in a loving way and is very attached to her dolls," said Mr Smith. "She is a fan of Sir Cliff Richard, Steve Davis and Tottenham Hotspur. But it would be wise not to mention Manchester United or Arsenal in her presence."
Mrs McVeigh gave her evidence after the court was shown a 20minute video of a typical day in the life of her daughter. "Fiona has never recovered, either physically or mentally," she said "and we have to do everything for her.
"She cannot be left alone and there is no question of her looking after herself. She can't read and can't write and has now become epileptic."
Mrs McVeigh said while she was alive she would continue looking after Fiona. "After that I hope my daughter, Angela, will look after her," she said.
The case is expected to last at least two weeks.