A third interim settlement of compensation for birth injuries has been approved at the High Court after the judge turned down a request for a full payment to be made.
Nineteen-year-old Connor Corroon from Mallow in County Cork was born on February 6th 1995 at the Cork City General Hospital after being starved of oxygen in the womb. As a result of the hospital´s negligence, Connor is now permanently disabled with cerebral palsy, cannot speak and is confined to a wheelchair.
In 2010, Connor made a claim for compensation for birth injuries through his mother – Judith Corroon. The Cork City General Hospital acknowledged its liability for his injuries and an interim settlement of €1.6 million was approved pending the introduction of structured payment legislation. Connor´s was the first case to be dealt with in this way.
Last year Connor received a second interim settlement of compensation for birth injuries claim amounting to €475,000 and was due to receive a third payment. On Connor´s behalf, his mother appealed to the High Court that this third interim settlement of compensation for birth injuries should be a full and final payment.
Mrs Corroon explained to Mr Justice Bernard Barton at the High Court that Connor has to undergo a series of assessments each time he re-appears in court and she wanted her son to be able to get on with his life and go to college. Under the current arrangement, Connor has undergone more than twenty assessments each time an interim payment is due.
Judge Barton turned down the request for a full settlement of compensation – stating that it would be catastrophic for Connor if the court were to approve a final settlement and the money run out later in his life. He also explained that he had recently received a consultation paper relating to the proposed Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill that aims to introduce periodic payments system next year.
After hearing that the family had agreed to another interim settlement of compensation for birth injuries, the judge approved an interim settlement of €1.45 million and adjourned Connor´s case for a further five years.