The family of a Co Cork woman who died after she was admitted to hospital for a routine heart angiogram test have settled a High Court action over her death for €420,000.
Mother of three and grandmother to four, Aileen Halligan (69) from Cobh died on May 31st, 2017 after going to the Mater Private Hospital in Mahon, Co Cork for the procedure, which involves examining the blood vessels.
Ms Halligan’s daughter Aoife Halligan Brown and sons Shane and Niall Halligan, all from Cobh, had sued Abid Hussaini, consultant interventional cardiologist at the Mater Private Hospital in Mahon, Co Cork over the death of Ms Halligan. Ms Halligan’s husband James was originally a plaintiff in the case, but he died in May 2021.
The family’s counsel Dr John O’Mahony SC, with Cian O’Mahony BL, told the court on Tuesday the case was settled for €420,000, without an admission of liability.
Counsel said Ms Halligan, a retired nurse, attended hospital for an angiogram, but also had an angioplasty at the hospital, an unblocking procedure and involves a stent insertion.
Counsel said it was their case that the stenting procedure was mishandled, and that the stent became displaced, and while steps were taken to correct the displacement, Ms Halligan subsequently developed thrombosis and heart failure and died.
In the proceedings, it was claimed there was a failure to warn Mrs Halligan of the risk of perforation involved in stenting, and a failure to exercise the care, diligence, judgment and skill to be expected.
All of the claims were denied.
Counsel said the Halligan family were “disturbed by what happened on that day”.
Aoife Halligan Brown told the court her family had waited over seven years for their day in court.
“We did not get to say goodbye. If we knew about the risks and complications we would have not said that morning ‘see you later’. We would have dealt with things differently,” she said.
Ms Halligan Brown told the judge when doctors came in to discuss the situation, as the Halligans waited in a family room of the hospital, they had blood on their shoes and scrubs.
“The first doctor had blood on his shoes and then a team of doctors came in and they had blood on their scrubs and shoes. The whole scene was chaotic,” she told the judge.
She added: “What happened has been completely life changing. We have been left completely devastated by the loss of our beautiful mum.”
Approving the settlement and the division of the statutory mental distress payment of €35,000, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said it was a sad and tragic case, and he expressed deepest sympathy to the family.
Outside court, Ms Halligan Brown, on behalf of the Halligan family, said: “Monetary compensation is in fact little or no compensation for the dreadful loss we have suffered. Our mum should be with us today.”
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