Mayo teen Róisín Tansey receives €4 million settlement from CHI

Sixteen-year-old Róisín Tansey from Killasser, Swinford, has secured a €4 million settlement from Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street following a nine-year legal battle over her hospital care.

Róisín is confined to a wheelchair after suffering a spinal-cord injury at the age of three-and-a-half after a simple fall on a sofa at her home.

The High Court approved the settlement on Wednesday, which was reached without an admission of liability. The case was resolved through mediation.

Róisín was just three-and-a-half years old when she fell from an armchair at her home on January 11, 2013. 

After the fall, she complained of weakness in her arms and was taken to Mayo University Hospital before being transferred to Temple Street Hospital in the early hours of January 12.

READ MORE: Roisin Tansey to receive special award for courage

The legal action, brought through her mother Breda Tansey, alleged failures in promptly diagnosing and treating Róisín's condition after her arrival at Temple Street. The claims included alleged delays in carrying out an MRI scan and appropriate treatment. All claims were denied by the hospital.

Speaking to The Mayo News, Róisín's solicitor David O'Malley welcomed the resolution of the case through mediation. "Hard cases very often don't make for good law," he said.

He acknowledged the cooperation of the State Claims Agency in facilitating the mediation process and encouraged the use of alternative dispute resolution in complex healthcare cases wherever possible.

O'Malley also called on the Government to swiftly implement the Civil Reform Bill 2025 to expedite complex cases and reduce trauma for all parties involved.

In a personal note about his client, the Ballina-based solicitor added: "Roisin is a wonderful person and I hope it enriches her life. With her wit and brevity I can see her in the Four Courts representing others in the future."

READ MORE: Tóchar Phádraig Walk for Róisín Tansey Fund

Róisín, who has appeared on RTÉ's The Late Late Show on multiple occasions, has become known for her positive outlook and artistic talents. Despite being paralysed from the neck down, she has become an accomplished mouth painter and has received recognition for her courage, including a Child of Courage Award in 2018.