FAMILY AWARDED DAMAGES AFTER NEGLIGENT UHG TREATMENT

Date Published: 22-Dec-2011

The family of a farmer who died as a result of negligence in his treatment at University Hospital Galway has been awarded 1 point 5 million euro in damages.

According to the Irish Times, most of the award arose due to the loss of an expected inheritance of the man’s mothers farm.

Grace Davoren, a mother of four from Ballyvaughen County Clare claimed she lost out on a 1 point 5 million euro inheritance of her husband Michael’s family farm.

It followed circumstances where after he died after treatment for colitis, his mother altered a will that initially had left a 623 acre farm to him so as to ultimately leave it to his daughter.

Grace Davoren claimed that if her husband had not died before his mother the farm would have been left to her family.

Mrs. Davoren sued the HSE, consultant gastroenterologist John Lee and consultant surgeon Oliver McAnena following the death of her 47 year old husband on August 31st 2003.

In his judgement, Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’ Neill rejected an argument by the defendents that it was probably the falling out between Grace and her mother in law that caused them to lose out on the inheritance of the estate.

Yesterday he ruled in her favour and awarded her and her family over 1 point 5 million euro in damages.