Personal injury news

Personal injury solicitors win brain damage case

A brain damaged Northern Ireland woman is celebrating with her personal injury solicitors after being awarded £500,000 by the High Court.

Gillian Larkin, of Brocklamont Park, Ballymena, has permanently been in a minimally conscious state since the birth of her daughter at London's Mayday Hospital in 1999. The 40-year-old was discovered to have preeclampsia and the court found the hospital negligent because a caesarean section was not carried out, resulting in her brain damage.

The Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust in Croydon denied responsibility and claimed that Mrs Larkin's haemorrhage was caused by a "congenital malformation" in the brain, meaning that an earlier delivery would have made no difference to the outcome of her condition.

Mr Justice Andrew, overseeing the case at the High Court in London, agreed with Mrs Larkin's personal injury solicitors and awarded £500,000 in compensation. The money is intended to pay for care for the brain damaged woman and support any special needs that she might have.

In addition to awarding money to Mrs Larkin, the judge paid tribute to her husband, praising him for his hard work. Stephen Larkin gave up his job as a British Airways worker and now spends his time caring for his wife and their baby daughter, Charlotte.