A severely disabled child with cerebral palsy who is confined to a wheelchair and can communicate only with his eyes, has brought a High Court action over the circumstances of his birth at a Cork hospital.
Gill Russell (6), Aghada, Co Cork, was described by his mother, Karen, in court yesterday as “a smart kid who is locked in”. Gill is in mainstream school and learns with the aid of a special computer.
Through his mother, the child has sued the HSE over severe injuries suffered due to negligence around the time of his birth at the Erinville Hospital on July 12th, 2006.
Liability is admitted and the case is before the court only for assessment of damages. Mr Justice Michael Moriarty was told this aspect of the case would take about four weeks.
It is claimed Gill was born after an alleged “prolonged and totally chaotic” delivery. His head was delivered with an assisted vacuum and it took a documented 12 minutes to deliver the shoulder. He had a severe shoulder dystocia and was born after his mother had a symphysiotomy. He was transferred to Cork University Hospital and not allowed home for two months.
Opening the case, Liam Reidy SC said Gill suffered a significant brain injury and had dyskinetic cerebral palsy. He had had to have a peg feeding system inserted.
Counsel said Gill was a lively, kind, handsome boy who communicated through his eyes and by a flailing of his arms.