Useful information

• Assessment of Needs
• Autism & Mental Illness
• CAMHS Misdiagnosis 
• Paediatric Negligence Claim
• Birth Injury Claim
• Child Injury Claim

Child Disability Solicitors in Ireland

At Coleman Legal LLP, our Child Disability Solicitors have years of experience supporting families dealing with issues under medical negligence and mental health law. For confidential assistance, please call 1800-844-104 or email [email protected]. You can also visit us at our 84 Talbot Street, Dublin 1, Ireland office.

Our experience

At our firm, we understand the challenges that families face when navigating Ireland’s disability and mental health services. Our Child & Disability Law Solicitors have years of experience working alongside families who have encountered obstacles like inaccurate assessments, long delays, and issues with clinical care. We are dedicated to helping you seek the justice and support your child deserves. Our focus is on listening to your concerns and guiding you through the legal process, ensuring that your family’s needs are at the heart of everything we do.

1. Assessment of Needs

Legal entitlement and delays

We understand that navigating the Assessment of Needs (AON) process under the Disability Act 2005 can be daunting for many families. Every child with a suspected disability is legally entitled to a timely, multidisciplinary assessment. However, many families face unacceptable delays from the HSE.

How we can help

• We represent clients in challenging these failings through complaint mechanisms and legal action, including judicial review.
• Our team ensures that your child’s right to a full and proper assessment is upheld.
• If your child’s assessment has been delayed or mishandled, our Child Disability Solicitors can help.

2. Preliminary Team Assessment (PTA)

Concerns with the PTA Model

The HSE’s use of the Preliminary Team Assessment (PTA) has raised serious concerns. Intended as a response to the demand for assessments, many PTAs are brief and inadequate, failing to meet legal requirements or the child’s individual needs.

How we can help

• Our Child Disability Solicitors have years of experience assisting families whose children were at the short end of HSE processes.
• If you feel your child was not properly assessed, we can inform you about the legal remedies available, including:
  1. Appeals
  2. Formal complaints
  3. High Court proceedings
• We are currently pursuing cases where the PTA has failed to deliver the comprehensive evaluation that every child deserves.

3. CAMHS Cases

Issues with treatment and mismanagement

We also act in complex and sensitive cases involving the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), particularly where inappropriate treatment, delayed diagnosis, or medication mismanagement has caused harm to a child. These issues have come under increasing scrutiny following reviews into CAMHS failings.

How we can help

• With years of experience in medical negligence and mental health law, our Child Disability Solicitors are well-placed to assist families whose children have suffered due to systemic failings in CAMHS.
• We provide:
  1. Strategic legal advice
  2. Experienced medical engagement
  3. Compassionate support every step of the way

Our support

We provide specialised legal support for families navigating the challenges of Ireland’s child disability services. Our work includes:

• Representing families in legal actions to enforce HSE obligations
• Challenging delays and lodging complaints under the Disability Act 2005
• Disputing incomplete or inadequate assessments, including those under the PTA model

We are committed to helping children access the support they are legally entitled to. For confidential assistance, please call 1800-844-104 or email [email protected]. You can also visit us at our 84 Talbot Street, Dublin 1, Ireland office.

Child disability solicitor at Coleman Legal

Steven Whelan is a Senior Solicitor specialising in medical negligence, public justice and multi-party actions. He brings a diverse legal background spanning public and regulatory law, personal injury litigation, data protection and defence litigation. Steven has a particular interest in representing vulnerable children affected by systemic failures in mental health and disability services, including those navigating the AON (Assessment of Need) process. A first-hand understanding of the intersection between legal rights, health systems and access to services informs his work.

Steven is known for his strategic, empathetic approach to complex cases, often involving overlapping psychiatric and neurodevelopmental diagnoses. He is committed to securing timely and effective intervention for his clients, particularly where delays or inappropriate treatment have led to harm. At Coleman Legal we understand that the AON process, if properly implemented, has the potential to transform lives. Steven is committed to ensuring that it is used as intended – fairly, promptly, and with the child’s best interests at heart.

Coleman Legal LLP

Solicitors
84 Talbot Street, Dublin 1
D01 YX60
DX 112002

Contact Details

Free Phone: 1800-844-104
Fax: (01) 5312727
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.colemanlegalpartners.ie

Note: This article aims to provide legal information and should not be construed as legal advice. For personalised guidance, please consult with our legal team.