Assessment of Need delays in Ireland are at record levels, with children facing waiting times of more than two years and families left without timely support guaranteed under the Disability Act 2005.
A High Court ruling allows a woman to continue her sexual abuse civil claim against her brother. The court found no unfair trial risk despite a 40-year delay in bringing the case.
The North Kerry CAMHS Review led by Dr. Colette Halpin has completed its assessment of around 300 patient files, but the report remains unpublished despite being drafted in June 2025. This delay is causing significant distress for affected families, particularly given that 50% of reviewed cases have resulted in apologies from the HSE, compared to just 15% in the South Kerry Maskey Review.
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May 2017
Coleman Legal Partners recently finalised a case on behalf of the family of a man who was wrongfully killed in the course of his work due to the negligence of his employer. The firm was instructed by his widow, the Plaintiff, to bring an action on behalf of all the ‘Dependants’ of the deceased within the meaning of the Civil Liability Act 1961.
The deceased had worked for the Defendant company for the majority of his working life. While in the course of his employment the deceased was required to work with and in close proximity to asbestos materials*, which caused him to inhale injurious quantities of asbestos dust and fibre. The Defendant company was liable for the health and welfare of the deceased and breached that duty when they failed to protect him from exposure to the dangerous material.
Coleman Legal Partners successfully negotiated an out of court settlement for all the Dependants of the deceased. Actuarial evidence was compiled to quantify the significant losses of the Dependants and took account of lost earnings, pension benefits and valuations in respect of various maintenance/ household tasks the deceased would have carried out, had he been alive.
Damages reflecting the family’s capital loss, as well as the funeral and testamentary expenses borne by the widow, were paid over to the Plaintiff and the named Dependants totalling €160,000. The firm also secured their legal costs from the Defendant company.
(*Asbestos is a natural mineral made up of many small fibres and can be harmful if dust containing the fibre is inhaled. Asbestos has been used about the home in building materials and consumer goods, particularly to resist heat and to give fire protection. Asbestos products pose a significant risk to health and should always be handled with extreme caution. Always take precautions, and contact the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) for advice)
A High Court ruling allows a woman to continue her sexual abuse civil claim against her brother. The court found no unfair trial risk despite a 40-year delay in bringing the case.
The North Kerry CAMHS Review led by Dr. Colette Halpin has completed its assessment of around 300 patient files, but the report remains unpublished despite being drafted in June 2025. This delay is causing significant distress for affected families, particularly given that 50% of reviewed cases have resulted in apologies from the HSE, compared to just 15% in the South Kerry Maskey Review.
![Sodium Valproate Inquiry [2025]](https://colemanlegalpartners.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Sodium-Valproate-Inquiry-2025-Coleman-Legal-LLP-400x250.webp)
The Sodium Valproate Inquiry in Ireland officially commenced on 22 July 2025, marking a crucial investigation into the historical use of this epilepsy drug and its devastating effects on children exposed in the womb. This comprehensive inquiry, chaired by Barrister Bríd O’Flaherty BL, will examine decades of prescribing practices, regulatory oversight, and the adequacy of patient warnings regarding Sodium Valproate’s risks to unborn children.
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