AN 11-year-old boy allegedly left brain damaged after birth has settled his action for damages against the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, for €5.5m.

Cian Brady, Joyce Road, Lusk, Co Dublin, had sued the hospital through his mother, Michelle Brady. The settlement is without admission of liability.

It was claimed that on March 27, 2000, Ms Brady was admitted to the hospital with elevated blood pressure.

With continued high blood pressure, Ms Brady was transferred to the labour ward a few days later. On April 1, Cian was born by caesarean section, but it is claimed as a direct result of mismanagement both during the labour and after the baby's birth, he suffered severe personal injuries.

It was claimed that the hospital was negligent in failing to exercise any reasonable care for the boy and failing to have available a pre-warmed incubator. It was claimed the baby was placed in his mother's bed in an attempt to warm him up when he should have been placed in an incubator.

Cian, it is claimed, can never lead a normal life and is suffering from asymmetrical quadriplegic cerebral palsy. His lower limbs are less affected and he has a vocabulary of about 10 words. He is also short-sighted and suffers from epilepsy.

Denis McCullough, for the Bradys, said liability and causation were an issue in the case. The defendant, he said, contended an unknown event occurred five days before labour and this caused the brain damage.

Counsel said it was recognised that there was a significant issue of liability and the legal team had allowed for a 25pc deduction for risk.

Ms Justice Mary Irvine said while money will never compensate Cian, it will provide the care he needs. She said it was a terrific settlement and she hoped it would allow the Bradys to return to some normality.