Thurles Information

Tipperary University Hospital has apologised for deficiencies provided to a mother, which lead up to the birth of her son some five years ago.

Lennon Meaney Shanahan had, through his mother Ms Anne Marie Meaney, sued the HSE over the management of his mother’s pregnancy leading to his delivery.
The settlement against the HSE includes a pledge of €1 million towards night nursing care for the little boy, who has quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy, resulting in his inability to speak and visual impairment.

Counsel acting on behalf of Lennon; Mr Bruce Antoniotti SC, instructed by Mr Jamie Hart of Agustus Cullen Law Solicitors, Dublin, confirmed to the High Court that Lennon suffers from the most severe level of cerebral palsy.

It was claimed, through their Council, that there had been a failure to offer induction of labour and that his mother had been allowed to leave Tipperary University Hospital in circumstances where her blood pressure was significantly elevated, thus warranting further medication. It was also claimed that there was a failure to carry out the induction of labour during the mother’s admission between May 21st and May 22nd, of 2018 last.

It was further alleged, that there had been a failure to ensured Ms Meaney remained in hospital for maternal and fetal monitoring; rather than being sent home as was the case, until induction was feasible from the perspective of hospital management.

The HSE admitted it was in breach of its duty of care in relation to the management of the mother’s pregnancy on different occasions in May 2018, thus resulting in a failure to induce labour. It further admitted it was in breach of its duty of care, in relation to the management of the mother’s pregnancy, following spontaneous rupture of membranes on May 24th, of 2018.

In a letter to the parents of Lennon; Mr Paul Shanahan and Ms Anne Marie Meaney, which was read to the court, the hospital said it accepted responsibility for these failings, which should not have happened.

Lennon’s case will come back once again before the court, in five years’ time, when future care needs will be further assessed.

Mr Justice Paul Coffey, in approving the settlement, stated that same was reasonable, before wishing Lennon and his family all the best for the future.