HSE issues apology in case over Limerick man’s death

University Hospital Limerick has apologised and admitted liability in the case of a 65-year-old man, who died following complications from colorectal surgery.

The family of Michael Daly, from the Lee estate in Limerick, had taken a case against the HSE following his death in 2010.

The original inquest into his death had recorded a verdict of death from natural causes but a second inquest last year found he had died as a result of medical misadventure.

The case was settled today in the High Court and a letter on behalf of UHL addressed to his widow Mary, was read to the court.

In the letter, the hospital offered its sincere apologies to the Daly family.

It said that, regrettably, investigations had shown that aspects of the care received by Mr Daly did not reach the standards that could be expected.

It said the hospital admitted liability and apologised unreservedly to the family for the hurt, stress and upset that was caused.

Sixteen members of the Daly family were present in court today. Afterwards, his son Mike Daly junior spoke outside the court.

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“Today with the admission of liability and the public apology from the HSE we can finally close off this chapter in our pursuit of justice for our father.”

He continued: “However, it is important to highlight that most medical negligence cases involve a single incident … in our father’s case there were over 20 separate incidence of medical negligence constituting a sustained pattern of negligence over a two-and-a-half-year period, ultimately leading to our father’s death.”