News That Shapes Irish Medical Law
Explore the stories, cases, and initiatives that reflect our commitment to protecting those harmed by failures in medical care, and ensuring their voices are heard.
Latest news
People catastrophically injured through negligence seek annual payment of damages
Catastrophically injured people and their families are urging the Government to introduce Periodic Payment Orders so compensation cannot run out before their care needs end.
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Michael Boylan Litigation sponsors the AVMA conference 2025
Michael Boylan Litigation was proud to sponsor the AVMA (Action against Medical Accidents) conference in November 2025, reflecting its commitment to patient safety.
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Ciara McPhillips on Ireland AM
Michael Boylan Litigation solicitor Ciara McPhillips joined activist and mother Karen Keely on Virgin Media's Ireland AM to discuss the epilepsy drug Epilim (sodium valproate) and the inquiry into how it came to harm more than 1,000 Irish children.
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'The real work starts now': Long-awaited inquiry into drug that causes birth defects begins
The inquiry will have three strands and invite those impacted by sodium valproate to give oral statements from September.
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Medical Malpractice: Michael Boylan on navigating medical negligence law in Ireland - Part 1
Welcome to another episode of Obiter Dicta, Bloomsbury Professional’s podcast on all things law and tax with Rachel Sherlock and Grainne McMahon.
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Time to cut out delays in cases of medical negligence
For medical negligence solicitor Michael Boylan, it appeared to be an open-and-shut case.
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Sodium Valproate Scandal: Justice and support for Families
After decades of pharmaceutical regulation and patient safety failures, the sodium valproate scandal has caused public outcry, legal battles and a re-evaluation of medical ethics and governance.
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Solicitor Calls For Redress Scheme To Void 'Perpetual Litigation' Over Anti-Epilepsy Drug
A medical negligence solicitor has warned of "perpetual litigation" over sodium valproate prescriptions unless a redress scheme is set up for affected families.
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€12m epilepsy drug settlement in High Court could open floodgates to dozens more cases
A €12m High Court settlement with a teenager whose mother took sodium valproate while pregnant could open the floodgates to dozens more cases.
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Calls for redress scheme for children affected by drug that caused birth defects
Two medical negligence solicitors are calling for a redress scheme for children born with birth defects after their mothers took sodium valproate during pregnancy.
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Interview with Ciara McPhillips - Calls For Redress Scheme For Children Affected By Drug That Caused Birth Defects
Theresa O’Donohue and solicitor Ciara McPhillips joined Morning Focus to call for a redress scheme for children born with Fetal Valproate Spectrum Disorder.
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Sodium Valproate Syndrome, Are we repeating mistakes?
The firm is currently acting for approximately 15 families whose children have been affected by exposure in utero to the common anti-epileptic drug sodium valproate (Epilim).
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First sodium valproate injury case opens next month
The first court case taken by an Irish family affected by the prescribing of sodium valproate during pregnancy opens in late November.
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Government Urged To Implement Existing Clinical Recommendations
A prominent medical negligence lawyer has called on the Government to urgently introduce reforms for resolving clinical negligence claims already recommended by a previous working group.
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Swine flu jab fears reported two years before Irish recall
'The British Medical Journal' published a major investigation into the use of the drug across Europe where it is now linked to cases of narcolepsy or severe sleep disorders in children.
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Gillian & Michael, colleagues, staff and supporters celebrate 1st birthday for new firm.
We wish to thank all of our clients for their unwavering support and loyalty over the past year.
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Swine flu jab legal action to be test case for 100 others
A landmark High Court case brought by Aoife Bennett against the State and GSK over alleged narcolepsy caused by the Pandemrix swine flu vaccine could set a precedent for over 100 pending claims.
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Mother would not have allowed vaccine use with prior knowledge, court hears
Mary Bennett told the High Court she would never have let her daughter Aoife receive the Pandemrix vaccine had she known it was untested on children's age group.
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Woman suffered 'waves of tiredness' after swine flu vaccination, court hears
Aoife Bennett told the High Court she would not have taken the Pandemrix swine flu vaccine had she known then what she knows now about its risks.
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Government accused of ‘scare tactics’ to deter swine flu vaccine cases
Aoife Bennett and her mother have hit out at government spin after the state settled her narcolepsy case over the Pandemrix swine flu vaccine without admitting liability.
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Boy (15) who claims he got narcolepsy from vaccine seeks early hearing
An early hearing date will be sought on Monday for a High Court action by a teenager who alleges he developed narcolepsy as a result of receiving a swine flu vaccine when he was five.
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Widow of deceased consultant sues hospitals over alleged negligence
Ms Hyland-McGuire is suing Prof Des Winter and two Dublin hospitals over her husband's 2016 death, seeking €2.8 million plus damages for nervous shock.
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Cervical Check Tribunal - HSE and the laboratories involved willing to consent to the Tribunal process
Michael Boylan Litigation is pleased to act on behalf of the first applicant to the Cervical Check Tribunal, amongst others.
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First Application to Cervical Check Tribunal
Michael Boylan Litigation is pleased to act on behalf of the first applicant to the Cervical Check Tribunal.
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Michael Boylan Litigation welcomes new Partner
Michael Boylan Litigation, the recognised specialist litigation law firm has appointed Ciara McPhillips as a Partner.
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‘State seems to want to fight all the narcolepsy cases, whatever the cost’
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says he cannot direct the State Claims Agency on Pandemrix narcolepsy cases, as families face a 28-day deadline to accept reduced settlement offers.
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Parents reveal fury at lawyers' deadline over swine flu vaccine compensation
Parents of children who claim narcolepsy and cataplexy after the Pandemrix swine flu vaccine have hit out at a state ultimatum to accept 50% of their compensation claims within 28 days.
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Anti-Psychotic Drug (Risperidone) Inappropriately given to hundreds of Children
Following concerns raised about the clinical practice of a Non-Consultant Hospital Doctor and a Locum Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in…
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Families whose children have been affected by Epilim drug call for redress scheme
A redress scheme is needed for families affected by mis-prescribing of epilepsy drug Epilim during pregnancy, parents and legal experts have urged.
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External review ordered into aspects of orthopaedic care at Temple Street
MBLLF have been instructed by a number of families concerning their childrens' treatment at Temple Street Hospital.
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Epilim inquiry to move forward
A non-statutory inquiry into the historical licensing and use of sodium valproate (Epilim) in women of child-bearing potential is moving forward, the government has said.
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Couple suing Rotunda Hospital over death of baby entitled to documents related to internal inquiry
The Court of Appeal has ruled that Cliona O'Keeffe and Alan Doran must be given internal inquiry documents from the Rotunda Hospital relating to the death of their baby daughter Fiadh in 2019.
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Court approves two settlements over epilepsy drug use
The High Court has approved two settlements totalling almost €18m for two young boys whose mother was given the epilepsy drug Epilim while she was pregnant.
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13-year-old boy settles claim for €15m over use of epilepsy drug in mother's pregnancy
A 13-YEAR-old boy with autism who sued a neurologist over the alleged failure to properly inform his mother of the risks of taking an epilepsy drug while…
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Autism risk from epilepsy drug not explained to mother during pregnancy, court hears
A 13-year-old boy with autism is suing consultant neurologist Dr Raymond Murphy through his mother, alleging he was not properly warned about the risks of taking Epilim during pregnancy.
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Siblings' family take cases over prescribing of valproate during pregnancy
A five-year-old boy with cerebral palsy has secured a €15 million settlement and an apology from the Coombe hospital, following High Court claims of negligence during his birth.
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Victims face court fights on epilepsy drug as the State ‘drags its heels
Victims face court fights on epilepsy drug as the State ‘drags its heels. Patient Rights & Advocacy report, February 2023.
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Families demand action on epilepsy drug
Families affected by sodium valproate are urging Minister Donnelly to bring long-agreed inquiry terms of reference to Cabinet, as another High Court case looms.
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Up to 30 babies’ lives could be saved each year through new screening process, solicitor says
Up to 30 babies’ lives could be saved each year through new screening process, solicitor says. Medical Negligence News report, 9 February 2024.
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Case against doctors over epilepsy drug's pregnancy risks settled for €12m
A teenager’s case alleging two doctors failed to properly inform his mother about the risks of taking certain seizure-controlling drugs while pregnant has…
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Epilepsy drug caused baby's neurological damage, court told
The High Court has begun hearing an action over neurological damage allegedly caused to a baby by a drug used to control epilepsy while his mother was pregnant.
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I took the tablets and he's the one suffering' says mother prescribed anti-epilepsy pill when pregnant
Josh, aged 11, cannot feel pain, and he once did not notice he had fractured his leg. He wears ear-defenders all day.
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Boy alleges epilepsy drug prescribed to mother during pregnancy caused him neurological damage
Alex Fahey, 16, is suing a GP and a neurologist claiming they failed to properly warn his mother about the risks of taking epilepsy drug Epilim during pregnancy.
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Michael Boylan Litigation wins award for the Best Civil litigation law firm of the year for 2022
Michael Boylan Litigation won both the Leinster regional award and the national title of Best Litigation Law Firm 2022 at the 10th Annual Law Awards, held on 28th October 2022.
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‘It’s a miracle my son survived but life is incredibly hard’, mum calls for routine screening for rare birth condition
Maria Meehan, whose son Ricci settled a €1.5m High Court action linked to vasa praevia, is campaigning for routine pregnancy scans to detect the rare condition.
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The Valproate Families: The stories of the families affected by Sodium Valproate in Ireland
Major concerns are being raised about the State’s failure to set up an inquiry into a drug that caused serious birth defects and developmental delays in at least 1,200 Irish babies.
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Sodium Valproate (Epilim) A Scandal worse than Thalidomide
Our firm is currently acting for approximately 15 families whose children have been affected by exposure in utero to the common anti-epileptic drug sodium valproate (Epilim).
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Baby died ‘gasping for breath’ over 13 hours after doctors withdrew care, court hears
An action taken by the parents of a newborn baby who died “gasping for breath” over a 13-hour period after doctors withdrew care has been opened before the High Court.
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A Future Star for Ireland Gains Valuable Experience
A Future Star for Ireland Gains Valuable Experience. Medical Negligence News report, 9 February 2024.
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Solicitors welcome announcement of Epilim inquiry
Solicitors welcome announcement of Epilim inquiry. Patient Rights & Advocacy report, November 2020.
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Swine flu jab litigants offered €25,000 bonus to settle early
Eighty plaintiffs suing the state and GSK over alleged Pandemrix vaccine side effects have been offered a €25,000 bonus for settling within three months, following Ben Blackwell's High Court deal.
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Calls for independent inquiry into epilepsy drug sodium valproate
OACS Ireland has urged the Government to launch an independent inquiry into sodium valproate after a UK report recommended an apology and redress scheme for affected families.
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HSE ‘misled’ public on swine flu vaccine, claims teen with narcolepsy
Benjamin Blackwell, 15, is suing the state and GSK in the High Court, claiming the Pandemrix vaccine caused his narcolepsy and that officials misrepresented its safety.
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Woman sues over losing full strength of voice after vocal cord surgery
Abigail Barnett-Hunt claims surgeon joked about her becoming a ‘quiet wife’ before operation
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Michael Boylan Litigation
Michael Boylan Litigation will be registered as an LLP (Limited Liability Partnership) on the 3rd February 2020.
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HSE disputes extent of damages sought over pregnant woman kept on life support
The State Claims Agency, which is managing the case for the HSE, disputes the extent of damages sought.
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They ‘just nod off’: Heartbreak of narcolepsy laid bare in court
It is not unusual to see people nodding off during long, complex legal proceedings, but there is great heartbreak associated with the phenomenon in a case…
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Test case over alleged link between swine-flu vaccine and narcolepsy to open
The lead case of up to 100 cases over an alleged link between a human swine-flu vaccine and the sleep disorder narcolepsy is to open on Tuesday at the High Court.
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Swine-flu vaccine action is landmark test case
A landmark High Court action being taken by Aoife Bennett (27) from Kildare is expected to become a test case for Ireland’s vaccination programmes.
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Woman (26) sues State claiming she developed narcolepsy from Pandemrix swine flu vaccine
Aoife Bennett was 16 when she got the vaccine as part of a mass vaccination programme as the country braced itself for a human swine flu pandemic ten years ago.
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Vaccine not tested on teens before ‘de facto’ clinical trail, court told
Aoife Bennett is suing the State, the HSE, GlaxoSmithKline and the HPRA, claiming the Pandemrix vaccine she received at school in 2009 caused her narcolepsy and cataplexy.
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HSE admits partial liability over brain-dead pregnant woman kept on life support
The HSE has reportedly admitted liability on key parts of a damages claim by the family of a brain-dead pregnant woman kept on life support for weeks amid Eighth Amendment concerns.
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Revealed: Children got double dose of 'narcolepsy' jab
Some children were unknowingly given a second dose of the swine flu vaccine Pandemrix in 2011, which is now linked to a global rise in narcolepsy cases.
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