Northern Health Trust pays out £5.3m to girl starved of oxygen at birth

The settlement reached in the eight-year-old’s compensation claim against the Northern Health and Social Care Trust is one of the biggest of its kind in Northern Ireland.

The child, who cannot be identified, suffered hypoxia due to a delay in her delivery at Antrim Area Hospital in 2007.

It resulted in a series of complex health issues, including severe cerebral palsy and complex epilepsy.

Her parents sued the trust, claiming medical negligence.

The case had been due to run as a five-day trial at the High Court in Belfast earlier this month.

But full liability was admitted a week before the listed hearing date.

Instead, Madam Justice McBride on Monday approved the terms of the resolution between the parties.

A total pay-out in the region of £5.3 million has been agreed.

That figure covers damages and the costs of past and future care for the child.

Outside court her lawyer, Beth Allen of McCartan Turkington Breen Solicitors, explained the significance of the outcome.

She said: “The parents have been caring for their daughter for the last eight years without financial assistance.

“They are relieved that the claim has been settled in their daughter’s favour.”

Ms Allen added: “This settlement will enable them now to provide a greater level of care for the rest of their daughter’s life.”