Gillian O'Connor

Pandemrix - Narcolepsy Claims

In October/November 2019, following a 6 week trial she successfully settled the lead complex vaccine damage case. Damages were claimed on behalf of the Plaintiff as a result of contracting Narcolepsy/ Cataplexy following administration of the Pandemrix Swine Flu vaccine. The following year a settlement scheme was put in place whereby an ad hoc compensation scheme for the firm's clients was put in place. Since then, Gillian and her team are acting for 85 Pandemrix related clients. To date, approximately €80 million in settlements have been negotiated through mediations and the process is ongoing.

2016

Sheehan v Dr David Corr

In the area of Cerebral palsy arising from an Obstetricians failure to diagnose rhesus incompatibility disease (involving anti-E antibodies) during pregnancy. In 2011, a two year interim award of €1.9million was made. In 2014, after an 8 day Trial, further interim award for two years in the sum of €635,000 plus costs was made. Finally, in 2016, the case was settled for a further lump sum damages of €11.1m. Thus the total damages paid came to over €15.6 million.

2020

Perie v The HSE

€1.5 million damages for settlement for a dependency claim for the family of a young pregnant mother remaining on life support as a result of the implications of the 8th Amendment and Right to Life of the unborn. The action itself arose as a result of poor care whilst the mother was a patient at Mullingar Regional Hospital. The case settled after a protracted trial. The Defendants, the HSE admitted liability. Subsequently, settlement was achieved in 7 nervous shock claims from close nervous shock claims ranging up to €150,000 each in damages.

XL v Wilson and Bon Secours Hospital

Settlement of claim arising from an adverse outcome following laryngeal surgery. The allegation was that the Plaintiff suffered a severe adverse outcome to her vocal cords whereby nodules were removed and an excessive amount of laryngeal tissue resulting in serious complications for the Plaintiff. Settlement was confidential.

H McG v St Vincent’s University and Others - Damages for Fatal Heart Attack

Lump sum award for widow of hospital consultant who died. It was alleged that the Defendants failed to act expeditiously in response to adverse ischemic changes on electrocardiogram monitoring. Further, it was alleged that there was a failure to expedite the Plaintiff’s treatment and transfer to a percutaneous cardiac intervention centre, resulting in his death. Settlement was confidential.

2022

X-v-X - Delay in Diagnosis of Skin Cancer

It was claimed that the Defendants were negligent and in breach of duty in failing to correctly interpret, diagnose and report on the specimen taken in 2018 after the Plaintiff had a lesion removed. The Plaintiff alleged that because excised lesion was wrongly identified as benign, the malignant melanoma was not diagnosed for over two years. The Plaintiff was wrongly discharged without the appropriate follow-up.

The Plaintiff subsequently developed a lump on his neck. A further biopsy was carried out and it was found to be metastatic malignant melanoma. A scan later confirmed the skin cancer

Liability admitted, proceedings issued, fast tracked by the court,  judicial case management and mediated settlement in July 2022.

2023

Cauda Equina Injury - Damages of €3.5 million for Cauda Equina Injury

The essence of the Plaintiff’s case was that the Defendants were negligent in respect of 2 attendances at the A & E . The Plaintiff was at the A & E for 17 hours and no attempt to act upon the emerging “red flag” signs or the  suspected diagnosis of CES made by the GP who had examined the Plaintiff.

An urgent MRI scan should have been performed  upon first arrival and would have diagnosed evolving CES.  Instead, after 17 hours, the Plaintiff was discharged to routine care to be given an OPD appointment and routine outpatients MRI scan.

The Plaintiff reattended days later and there was a further delay of 12 hours in performing an MRI scan and surgery  and a further opportunity lost to urgently decompress the Plaintiff’s spine. The settlement after 8 days at trial of €3.5 million is believed to be a record award for a cauda equina case.

2024

Gillian retired as Managing Partner in February 2024 but remains an active Consultant at the firm consulting on a myriad of complex, high-value active cases.

• Member of Action for Victims of Medical Accidents (AvMA) Lawyers Resource Service
• Member of the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association
• Member of Medical Injuries Alliance (M.I.A.)