One of the most significant Irish birth injury medical negligence cases in 2025 was the €1.9 million High Court settlement involving a boy born at Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise.

The case concerned allegations that there was a delay in carrying out an emergency Caesarean section during the mother’s labour, reportedly linked to disagreements between doctors about the urgency of delivery. It was claimed the delay caused oxygen deprivation at birth and resulted in severe injuries. The High Court approved the settlement in July 2025, although liability was not formally admitted.

Another major 2025 development was the €10 million settlement in the Jonathan Hughes case. Mr Hughes, aged 44, alleged negligent antenatal and delivery care dating back to 1980 caused severe asphyxiation leading to cerebral palsy, epilepsy and developmental delay. Allegations included:

• failure to carry out continuous CTG monitoring,
• failure to recognise foetal distress,
• delay in performing Caesarean delivery,
• and inadequate neonatal treatment after birth.

The case settled in the High Court in 2025 for €10 million.

A further notable case involved Graysen Reid, a Co Tipperary child who obtained a €5 million interim settlement after alleged failures in neonatal airway management and response to respiratory deterioration caused hypoxic brain injury. The HSE reportedly accepted 80% liability during mediation.

These recent cases reflect recurring allegations commonly seen in Irish obstetric negligence litigation:

• delayed recognition of foetal distress,
• CTG interpretation failures,
• delayed emergency C-sections,
• inadequate neonatal resuscitation,
• and hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE).

The legal framework for assessing these claims in Ireland still centres on the principles from Dunne v National Maternity Hospital, the leading Irish medical negligence authority.