Brian McElhinney family awarded €35,000 in HSE case

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Brian McElhinney’s family had a €35,000 settlement approved in the High Court on 18 March 2020 after a medical negligence claim against the HSE.

The claim concerned injuries allegedly suffered after a lumbar puncture at Letterkenny University Hospital in July 2014.

McElhinney died on 20 December 2014. His widow Rosaleen sued the HSE on her own behalf and on behalf of his dependants, claiming negligence had accelerated his death. His underlying conditions were the cause of death, but it was alleged that the effects of the lumbar puncture and an alleged failure to treat them significantly hastened it.

The HSE denied negligence, while the settlement was approved by Mr Justice Kevin Cross for division among the family.