An eight-year-old Co Cork boy who was brain damaged at birth has been awarded €13.5m by the High Court.
The award was made this morning to Gill Russell towards his care for the rest of his life.
Mr Justice Kevin Cross, who had spent weeks hearing evidence in the case in relation to the boy's future care, said he believed €13.5m is a reasonable sum, fair to both sides of the case.
The case is also a ground breaking test case.
Payments for future care and expenses have usually been awarded by the Irish courts on the assumption that the monies will gain interest of 3% per year when invested and there is an in-built discount to allow for that.
Mr Justice Cross today fixed the rate of return or discount in Gill's case at 1% compared to the more usual 3% previously factored in.
Legal sources said this decision will have implications for future cases.
Gill's mother, Karen Russell, had pleaded with the court to award a lump sum payment for her son's future care needs because of the continuing absence of the necessary laws allowing for periodic payments for the catastrophically injured.
She broke down with tears of relief after today's judgment.
The case was adjourned two years ago with an interim payout of €1.4m in anticipation of the legislation.
In 2012, the HSE and Cork University Maternity Hospital apologised to the then six-year old boy as part of the partial settlement of the case.
Gill cannot walk, has cerebral palsy and must use a wheelchair.
Through his mother, he sued the HSE alleging negligence in the circumstances of his birth at the Erinville Hospital, Cork on 12 July 2006.
Liability was admitted and the case was before the court for assessment of damages only.
It was claimed Gill was born at 8.36am after an alleged "prolonged and totally chaotic" delivery.
He had a severe shoulder dystocia and was born after his mother had a symphysiotomy.
He was transferred to Cork University Hospital, where he remained for two months.
The court heard he will never be to walk and does not have function in his arms but can communicate and learn with the aid of a special computer which responds to his gaze.
In an apology read to the court last October on behalf of the HSE and Cork University Maternity Hospital, the defendants offered apologies for the pain and distress experienced by Gill and his family following his care and delivery.
The apology stated the defendants did not underestimate the trauma experienced but wished to assure Gill and his mother additional reviews of hospital practices are continually carried out with the aim of ensuring the safety of its patients at all times.
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