Cerebral palsy teen awarded €4.5m

A Cork teenager who has cerebral palsy because of a lack of oxygen at birth has been awarded $4.5 million. She had taken legal action against the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin.

Jessica O’Brien’s mother claimed the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin failed to continuously monitor the fetal heart rate of baby Jessica.

The court heard 17-year-old Jessica is a happy, teenager who hopes to complete he applied Leaving Certificate but is severely disabled, with learning difficulties and often requires the use of a wheelchair.

The hospital made no admission of liability.