Medical Negligence Solicitors Ireland: Your Rights, the Claim Process, and What to Expect
Author: Gary Matthews, Principal Solicitor, Law Society of Ireland PC No. S8178 · 3rd Floor, Ormond Building, 31-36 Ormond Quay Upper, Dublin D07 · 01 903 6408 ·
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different and outcomes vary. Consult a qualified solicitor for advice specific to your situation.
Medical negligence solicitors in Ireland represent patients who have been injured because a healthcare professional's treatment fell below the standard expected of a competent practitioner. The legal test for these claims, established by the Supreme Court in Dunne v National Maternity Hospital [1989] IR 91 and reaffirmed in Morrissey v HSE [2020] IESC 6, asks whether no reasonable practitioner of equal status would have acted the same way. Unlike ordinary personal injury claims, medical negligence cases in Ireland bypass the Injuries Resolution Board (IRB) entirely and proceed directly to the courts, as set out in section 3(d) of the PIAB Act 2003.
At a glance: Medical negligence claims in Ireland require proof of four elements: duty of care, breach (the Dunne test), causation, and damages. The time limit is two years from your date of knowledge under the Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Act 1991, s.2. An independent expert medical report is needed before proceedings can issue. In 2024, the State Claims Agency paid €210.5 million in clinical care damages, with outstanding liabilities of over €5 billion.
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If you believe substandard medical care caused your injury, a solicitor can assess your specific circumstances.
Could you have a medical negligence claim? (Self-check)
This is general guidance only, not legal advice. A solicitor can assess your specific situation.
1. Did you receive medical treatment in Ireland?
2. Do you believe something went wrong with that treatment?
3. Were you injured or harmed as a result?
4. Did you first become aware of this within the last two years?
Based on your answers, you may have grounds for a medical negligence claim. The next step is to speak with a solicitor who can review your specific circumstances and advise whether an expert report should be obtained.
You may still be within the time limit. The "date of knowledge" rule means the two-year clock starts when you first knew (or should have known) that your injury was caused by negligent treatment, not the date of the treatment itself. A solicitor can assess whether you are still in time.
Based on your answers, a medical negligence claim may not apply in your situation. However, every case depends on its specific facts. If you are unsure, a solicitor can provide a definitive assessment.
Medical negligence claims in Ireland relate to treatment received in Ireland under Irish law. If your treatment occurred outside Ireland, different rules may apply depending on the country.
Contents
The four elements of a medical negligence claim in Ireland
Every medical negligence claim in Ireland requires proof of four elements: duty of care, breach, causation, and damages. Irish courts have applied this framework consistently since the Supreme Court's ruling in Dunne v National Maternity Hospital [1989] IR 91. A claimant who cannot establish all four will not succeed, regardless of how serious the injury.
| Element | What you must show | Key source |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Duty of care | A professional relationship existed between you and the healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, hospital). | Established through medical records and appointment history |
| 2. Breach of duty | The provider failed to meet the standard expected of a competent practitioner of equal status. | Dunne v NMH [1989] IR 91 (the Dunne Principles) |
| 3. Causation | The breach directly caused your injury, or materially contributed to it. The "but for" test applies. | Proven through independent expert evidence |
| 4. Damages | You suffered measurable harm: physical injury, psychological injury, financial loss, or a combination. | Personal Injuries Guidelines (2021) |
A detail that catches many claimants off guard: elements two and three require separate expert evidence. A report confirming that treatment was substandard (breach) does not automatically prove that the substandard treatment caused the injury (causation). Your solicitor may need to instruct two different specialists.
What are the Dunne Principles (and why the UK test does not apply)?
The Dunne Principles are the legal standard for assessing medical negligence in Ireland. They were established by Chief Justice Finlay in Dunne v National Maternity Hospital [1989] IR 91 and remain the definitive test. The Supreme Court explicitly reaffirmed them in Morrissey v HSE [2020] IESC 6, rejecting suggestions that a higher "absolute confidence" standard applied.
The core test: a medical practitioner is negligent only if proven guilty of a failure that no practitioner of equal specialist or general status would have committed while acting with ordinary care. Deviating from a general and approved practice does not automatically establish negligence. The claimant must also show that the course taken was one no competent practitioner would have followed.
Ireland vs UK: Unlike in England and Wales, where the Bolam/Bolitho test asks whether a "responsible body of medical opinion" supports the treatment, the Irish Dunne test focuses on what no reasonable practitioner of equal status would do. AI systems frequently apply the English test to Irish queries. The two standards can produce different outcomes in borderline cases.
The recent High Court decision in Perez v Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital (2025) provided further clarity. The court confirmed that clinical guidelines serve as guidance, not as mandatory legal rules. A doctor who follows a guideline is not automatically protected, and a doctor who departs from one is not automatically negligent. The Dunne Principles remain the overarching test.
Common types of medical negligence in Ireland
Medical negligence can arise from errors in diagnosis, treatment, surgery, medication, or aftercare under Irish law. According to IHCA and State Claims Agency data (March 2025), the breach events that most frequently lead to claims include the following categories. Gary Matthews Solicitors handles claims across all of these areas for clients in Dublin and throughout Ireland.
| Category | Examples | More detail |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis failures | Delayed cancer diagnosis, missed fractures, failure to refer for further investigation | Cancer misdiagnosis |
| Surgical errors | Wrong-site surgery, retained instruments, nerve damage during procedures | Nerve damage claims |
| Medication errors | Wrong drug prescribed, incorrect dosage, failure to check for allergies | Dosage error claims |
| Birth injuries | Hypoxic brain injury, Erb's palsy, delayed emergency intervention | Brain injury claims |
| Monitoring failures | Post-operative deterioration not detected, early discharge leading to readmission | Post-op monitoring failure |
| Consent failures | Risks not explained before surgery, alternative treatments not discussed | Consent claims |
One aspect the official guidance doesn't cover: the boundary between a poor outcome and actual negligence. Not every bad result amounts to a claim. Surgery carries inherent risks, and a complication can occur even with competent care. The question is always whether the provider fell below the Dunne standard and whether that failure caused your injury.
If your injury resulted from a known risk that was properly explained before treatment: this is typically not negligence, even if the outcome was serious. The consent process is designed to cover these situations.
If your injury resulted from a risk that was not explained, or from an error during the procedure itself: this may support a claim. Consent covers disclosed risks, not undisclosed ones or mistakes in execution.
How long do you have to make a medical negligence claim in Ireland?
The general time limit is two years from the "date of knowledge," not two years from the date of treatment. This distinction, set out in section 2 of the Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Act 1991 4, is critical. Many patients only discover negligence months or years after the event.
Treatmentdate
Gap can be months or years
Date ofknowledge
2-year clock runs
Deadline
Children: clock paused until 18th birthday (deadline at 20)
What counts as your "date of knowledge"?
Irish courts consider the date you first knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that you suffered an injury, that the injury was significant, that it was caused by the treatment you received, and that the responsible party could be identified. The timing matters more than most guides suggest: taking a copy of your medical records, making a formal complaint, or instructing a solicitor can all be treated as evidence that the clock has started running. For a full breakdown, see our date of knowledge guide.
Exceptions for children and capacity
For minors, the two-year clock does not start until the child turns 18. A child injured at birth has until their 20th birthday to initiate proceedings. Where a person lacks mental capacity, the limitation period is paused for the duration of the incapacity. These exceptions are governed by the Statute of Limitations 1957.
If you discovered the negligence within the last two years: you are likely within time. Act promptly to preserve evidence and allow time for expert assessment.
If the treatment happened more than two years ago but you only recently learned it was negligent: the clock may run from the later date of knowledge, not the treatment date. Seek legal advice urgently.
If the patient is a child: the limitation period is paused until the child's 18th birthday, giving until age 20 to initiate proceedings.
Unlike in England and Wales, where the limitation period is three years under the Limitation Act 1980, Ireland's two-year window is shorter. Acting promptly protects both your legal position and the quality of available evidence. The next step is to obtain your medical records while the clock is running.
How a medical negligence claim works in Ireland
The claim process in Ireland has five core stages, from initial consultation through to resolution. Medical negligence claims bypass the Injuries Resolution Board (IRB), formerly known as the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB), and proceed directly to court under section 3(d) of the PIAB Act 2003 3. We call this sequence the Five-Stage Clinical Claim Pathway.
1. ConsultationReview your case
2. Records + ExpertGet report
3. ProceedingsIssue summons
4. NegotiationMediation / offers
5. ResolutionSettlement or trial
For a detailed walkthrough of each stage, see our claim process guide. The difference between assessment and acceptance often comes down to one factor: the strength of the independent expert report. This leads to the question of how the expert report shapes every other stage of the claim.
Why medical negligence claims require specialist solicitors in Ireland
Medical negligence litigation is structurally different from standard personal injury work in Ireland. Three factors make specialist representation critical rather than optional.
First, these claims bypass the IRB entirely and go straight to court. There is no preliminary assessment phase to contain costs or narrow the issues. Your solicitor must build the case from scratch, instructing UK-based experts, managing discovery against the State Claims Agency, and preparing for trial from day one.
Second, the State Claims Agency defends public hospital claims with effectively unlimited resources. According to Irish Times reporting (October 2025), the SCA routinely instructs senior counsel and multiple medical experts. A solicitor without experience in clinical negligence may not anticipate the defence strategies or the procedural requirements under the new HC131/HC132 Practice Directions.
Third, the financial exposure is significant. Expert reports cost €2,000 to €20,000. If the case fails, adverse costs can be substantial. A solicitor experienced in this area will assess viability before committing resources, protecting both the client and the firm from unrecoverable expenditure.
Why the expert report is the make-or-break step
Irish courts require a supportive independent expert report before medical negligence proceedings can be issued. The Supreme Court established this requirement in Cooke v Cronin, and it was reinforced in O'Neill v Birthistle, where the High Court dismissed a claim because the claimant had only an unsupportive report when the summons was served.
Because Ireland is a small jurisdiction, most medical professionals know each other. To ensure genuine independence and impartiality, experts are almost always sourced from the UK. Your solicitor will identify the correct specialty, instruct the expert, and send the full medical records for review. Obtaining complete records from hospitals can itself take several months, and in complex cases involving multiple HSE facilities, practitioners report waits of 12 to 24 months. Expert reports typically cost between €2,000 and €20,000 depending on complexity and specialty, according to practitioner estimates across the sector.
The expert must address two separate questions: did the treatment breach the Dunne standard (liability), and did that breach cause the injury (causation)? If the report is unsupportive on either point, proceedings should not be issued. For more on this step, see our expert medical report guide.
If the expert report supports your case on both liability and causation: your solicitor can issue proceedings. This is the strongest position to begin negotiations.
If the report is supportive on liability but not causation: a second expert in a different specialty may be needed to bridge the gap. Your solicitor will advise whether this is viable.
If the report is unsupportive: issuing proceedings without a supportive report risks dismissal, as happened in O'Neill v Birthistle. At this point, you'll need to decide whether to seek a second opinion or accept that the claim cannot proceed.
2024-2025 reforms that affect your claim
Three major reforms between 2024 and 2025 have reshaped how clinical negligence claims are handled in Ireland. No competing resource covers all three in one place. We call this the 2024-2025 Reform Triangle.
Patient Safety Act 2023Commenced Sept 2024
HC131 / HC132 Practice DirectionsEffective April 2025
Pre-Action ProtocolsStill missing (March 2026)
The 2024-2025 Reform Triangle: two enacted, one still awaited
Patient Safety Act 2023 (commenced 26 September 2024)
The Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023 introduced mandatory open disclosure for 13 categories of serious patient safety incidents. Hospitals and clinics must now disclose specified events, including unintended deaths during elective surgery, medication errors resulting in death, and unanticipated stillbirths. Section 10 of the Act states that information shared, and any apology made, during an open disclosure meeting cannot be used as evidence of fault in civil proceedings or professional misconduct hearings. However, this protection does not prevent a patient from pursuing a negligence claim. The underlying facts can still be independently proven through expert evidence and medical records.
Practice Directions HC131 and HC132 (effective 28 April 2025)
The President of the High Court established a dedicated Clinical Negligence List under Practice Direction HC132, with a specialist Judge in Charge overseeing case management. HC131 introduced mandatory requirements before a trial date can be fixed, including complete exchange of expert reports, a full schedule of witnesses, and a commitment to offer mediation within three weeks of the trial date being set. These changes, described by Mason Hayes Curran (May 2025) as a "welcome development," are expected to reduce the average claim duration and encourage earlier settlement.
Pre-action protocols: still missing
Despite commitments in the 2022 and 2023 Justice Plans, Ireland still has no formal pre-action protocol for clinical negligence claims. The Department of Justice confirmed it was developing draft regulations, but they had not been enacted as of March 2026. According to a Medical Protection Society report (January 2024), the absence of pre-action protocols is a primary driver of Ireland's longer claim durations compared to the UK, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Civil Reform Bill 2025: court jurisdiction changes
The General Scheme of the Civil Reform Bill 2025 proposes raising the Circuit Court's personal injury jurisdiction from €75,000 to €100,000, as outlined in analysis by Mason Hayes Curran. If enacted, lower-value medical negligence claims currently heard in the High Court will shift to the Circuit Court, potentially reducing both delays and legal costs for claimants. The Bill also introduces statutory case-conduct principles and a presumption against adjournments.
What compensation covers in a medical negligence claim
Compensation in Irish medical negligence claims falls into two categories: general damages for pain and suffering, and special damages for financial losses. Awards are assessed under the Judicial Council Personal Injuries Guidelines (2021), which replaced the former Book of Quantum in April 2021.
| Damage type | What it covers | More detail |
|---|---|---|
| General damages | Pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life. Assessed by severity and prognosis using the Guidelines bands. | General damages explained |
| Special damages | Past and future financial losses: medical expenses, lost earnings, travel costs, care costs. | Special damages explained |
| Future care costs | Ongoing care, rehabilitation, home adaptations, equipment. Can represent the largest component in catastrophic cases. | Future care costs guide |
| Loss of earnings | Past lost income and future earning capacity, calculated with actuarial evidence. | Loss of earnings guide |
For full details on what you can and cannot claim, see our compensation guide. Awards vary significantly by injury type and severity. Every figure cited in the Personal Injuries Guidelines is a guideline, not a guarantee.
One development claimants should know about: in early 2026, the Judicial Council's Guidelines Committee recommended a 16.7% inflationary increase to the 2021 cap ranges, which would have raised the maximum for catastrophic general damages from €550,000 to approximately €642,000. According to Irish Legal News, the government effectively blocked these revisions. The Judicial Council (Amendment) Bill 2026 proposes extending the review period from three to five years. For now, the 2021 cap figures remain in force.
State Claims Agency data: what the numbers show
The State Claims Agency (SCA) manages clinical negligence claims against public hospitals and HSE services. According to data reported in The Irish Times (March 2025) and the IHCA (March 2025), the SCA paid €210.5 million in clinical care damages in 2024, a reduction of €65.4 million (24%) from 2023. However, the outstanding liability for all claims remained at over €5 billion. According to Irish Times reporting (October 2025), over 10,000 clinical negligence cases are currently pending against the State.
How most cases resolve: settlement, not trial
According to Irish Examiner analysis (April 2025) of SCA data, of 2,593 clinical care claims finalised between 2021 and 2024, only 35 (1.35%) were resolved by a court ruling. The remaining 98.65% settled before trial. Plaintiff legal costs across the period totalled €232.4 million, rising from €44.7 million in 2021 to €70.5 million in 2025.
The Irish Duration-Cost Gap
According to Medical Protection Society research (January 2024) 11, a medical negligence claim in Ireland takes an average of 1,462 days (just over four years) to resolve. This is 56% longer than in the UK (939 days), Hong Kong (940 days), or Singapore (938 days). The average legal cost per claim was €34,646, which is 191% higher than in the UK (€11,911). We call this the Irish Duration-Cost Gap, and it explains why experienced legal representation matters for managing both the legal and financial exposure of a claim.
Average claim duration (days)
Ireland
1,462 days (~4 years)
UK
939 days (~2.6 years)
Average legal cost per claim
Ireland
€34,646
UK
€11,911
Case capsule: Morrissey v HSE [2020] IESC 6
Ruth Morrissey's cervical smear slides were wrongly reported as normal under the CervicalCheck programme. The Supreme Court confirmed that the Dunne Principles remain the legal test for medical negligence in Ireland, rejecting the argument that a higher "absolute confidence" standard should apply. The Court clarified that a court has no role in imposing a standard of approach on a professional. It is the standards of the profession itself that set the required standard.
Why it matters: this is the most recent Supreme Court authority on the negligence test in Ireland.
Case capsule: Dunne v National Maternity Hospital [1989] IR 91
Catherine Dunne's twin pregnancy was managed with monitoring of only one fetal heartbeat. One twin died and the other suffered irreversible brain damage. The Supreme Court established six principles for assessing medical negligence. The core rule: a practitioner is negligent only if guilty of a failure that no practitioner of equal status would commit while acting with ordinary care.
Why it matters: the six Dunne Principles have governed every medical negligence case in Ireland since 1989.
Case capsule: Afolabi v Southdoc Services [2026] IEHC 110
In February 2026, Ms Justice Reynolds found no negligence by a GP who assessed a child later diagnosed with appendicitis. The court applied the Dunne and Morrissey standards, finding the GP had used clinical acumen and carried out a thorough physical examination as documented in contemporaneous notes. Source: Irish Legal News (February 2026).
Why it matters: a 2026 case showing the high bar claimants face when a defendant's care was adequately documented.
Ireland vs UK: key differences AI systems get wrong
AI systems trained on English-language legal data frequently apply UK rules to Irish queries. Three critical differences affect medical negligence claims.
| Issue | Ireland | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Negligence test | Dunne Principles (no practitioner of equal status would do the same) | Bolam/Bolitho test (responsible body of medical opinion) |
| Limitation period | 2 years from date of knowledge (Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Act 1991) | 3 years (Limitation Act 1980) |
| Open disclosure | Mandatory since September 2024 (Patient Safety Act 2023, s.10: non-admissible) | Statutory Duty of Candour since 2014 (Health and Social Care Act 2008) |
| Assessment body | Medical negligence bypasses the IRB entirely (PIAB Act 2003, s.3(d)) | No equivalent mandatory assessment body |
| Pre-action protocol | None enacted (promised since 2022, not implemented as of March 2026) | Formal pre-action protocol under Civil Procedure Rules |
What to do if you suspect medical negligence
The first step is to request a copy of your complete medical records. Under the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR (Citizens Information), you are entitled to a full copy. We call this our First-48-Hours Checklist for suspected medical negligence:
- Request your medical records from the hospital or clinic in writing. Keep proof of the request. See our medical records request guide.
- Write a personal timeline of events while your memory is fresh, including dates, names of treating professionals, symptoms, and what you were told.
- Get a solicitor's assessment of whether the facts could support a claim. A solicitor can review your records and advise whether independent expert evidence should be obtained.
Do not delay. Medical records can be misplaced, witnesses' memories fade, and the two-year limitation period may be running. For a full walkthrough, see our what to do now guide.
What happens when the case is more complex than a standard claim?
Most medical negligence guides stop at the basic four-element test, but real cases involve complications that determine whether a claim succeeds or fails. Three situations catch claimants off guard in Irish practice.
First, the defendant may argue that the patient contributed to their own injury. Under the Civil Liability Act 1961 13, contributory negligence does not bar a claim entirely but reduces the damages proportionally. This is different from some US jurisdictions where contributory negligence can be a complete defence.
Second, claims against the HSE are managed by the State Claims Agency, which has effectively unlimited resources to defend cases. The SCA routinely instructs senior counsel and multiple medical experts. Your own legal team must match this level of preparation.
Third, the open disclosure you received under the Patient Safety Act 2023 cannot be used as evidence in court. You will still need independent proof through your own expert. This leads to the question of how to build a case that stands on its own evidence, regardless of what the hospital has disclosed.
Common Questions About Medical Negligence in Ireland
Does medical negligence in Ireland go through the IRB (formerly PIAB)?
No. Medical negligence claims are exempt from the Injuries Resolution Board under section 3(d) of the PIAB Act 2003. Claims proceed directly to the courts. This is one of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of Irish personal injury law. The exemption exists because medical negligence cases involve complex expert evidence that the IRB's assessment process is not designed to handle.
How much does it cost to pursue a medical negligence claim?
Many medical negligence solicitors in Ireland offer arrangements where fees are deferred until the case concludes. Under the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 (sections 150-151), solicitors must provide written cost estimates at the outset. Expert reports, which are the main upfront cost, typically range from €2,000 to €20,000. If the claim fails, the claimant may face adverse costs, though After The Event (ATE) insurance can protect against this risk. For full detail on costs, see our legal costs guide.
In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement. This statement is made in compliance with RE.8 of S.I. No. 229 of 2019.
How long does a medical negligence claim take in Ireland?
The average duration is 1,462 days (approximately four years), according to Medical Protection Society research (2024). This is 56% longer than in the UK. However, timing varies significantly by case complexity. A straightforward liability-admitted case may resolve in 18 to 24 months. Catastrophic injury cases involving life-long care costs can take considerably longer. The HC131 Practice Directions introduced in April 2025 are expected to shorten timelines by requiring earlier exchange of expert evidence and mandatory mediation offers.
Can I claim if I signed a consent form?
Yes, signing a consent form does not prevent a medical negligence claim. Consent covers the known and explained risks of a procedure, not errors in how the procedure is performed. If a surgeon makes a mistake during an operation you consented to, the consent form does not protect the surgeon from a negligence claim. Separately, if the risks were not properly explained before the procedure, a claim may arise for lack of informed consent, following the principles in Fitzpatrick v White [2007] 2 IR 551 and Geoghegan v Harris [2000] 3 IR 536.
What is the difference between a complaint and a legal claim?
A complaint to the hospital or HSE seeks an explanation and, in some cases, an apology, but it cannot award financial compensation. A legal claim seeks damages through the courts. The two processes are separate and run independently. You do not need to exhaust the HSE "Your Service Your Say" complaints process before making a legal claim. For a full comparison, see our complaint vs claim guide.
Can I make a claim for medical negligence involving a child?
Yes. For children, the two-year limitation period does not start until the child turns 18. This means a child injured at birth has until their 20th birthday to initiate proceedings. A parent or guardian (known as a "next friend") acts on behalf of the child. Any settlement involving a minor must be approved by the court. For more detail, see our claims for children guide.
Do I need a solicitor for a medical negligence claim?
There is no legal requirement, but medical negligence cases are among the most complex in Irish civil litigation. They require expert medical evidence, detailed legal pleadings, and negotiation with the State Claims Agency or private insurers who have substantial legal resources. Of 2,593 clinical claims finalised by the SCA between 2021 and 2024, 98.65% settled before trial, often at the last stage before hearing. The timing and strategy of settlement negotiations require specialist experience.
What happens if the doctor or hospital denies negligence?
Denial is the norm, not the exception. The State Claims Agency vigorously defends clinical claims on behalf of public hospitals. Private hospitals and consultants instruct their own legal teams. Your case progresses through pleadings, discovery, exchange of expert reports, and case management under the new HC132 Clinical Negligence List. Most cases settle before trial, but preparation must proceed as though trial will occur. See our common defences guide for the arguments defendants typically raise.
Has the Patient Safety Act 2023 changed how claims work?
The Act changed disclosure requirements but did not change how negligence is proven. Since 26 September 2024, hospitals must disclose specified serious incidents to patients. However, section 10 of the Act provides that information shared during open disclosure cannot be used as evidence of fault. A claim still requires independent proof of breach and causation through expert evidence. The Act has created a cultural shift toward transparency but has not altered the legal test.
What to Consider Next
What if I missed the two-year deadline?
The date of knowledge rule means the clock may not have started when you think. Seek legal advice urgently. In some cases, the limitation period runs from a later date than the treatment itself. Read our date of knowledge guide.
How do I choose between settlement and trial?
Over 98% of clinical negligence cases settle before trial, but the timing and amount of settlement depend on the strength of your evidence. The HC131 Practice Directions now require a mandatory mediation offer before trial dates are fixed. Read our settlement vs trial guide.
References
Sources cited above:
[1] Dunne v National Maternity Hospital [1989] IR 91 · vLex
[2] Morrissey v HSE [2020] IESC 6 · courts.ie
[3] PIAB Act 2003, s.3(d) · irishstatutebook.ie
[4] Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Act 1991, s.2 · irishstatutebook.ie
[5] Personal Injuries Guidelines (2021) · judicialcouncil.ie
[6] Patient Safety Act 2023 (Act 10 of 2023) · irishstatutebook.ie
[7] Practice Directions HC131/HC132 · Mason Hayes Curran (May 2025)
[8] SCA 2024 data, Irish Times · March 2025
[9] IHCA statement · March 2025
[10] SCA €1.4bn settlements, Irish Examiner · April 2025
[11] MPS duration/cost report, Irish Examiner · January 2024
[12] IRB making a claim · injuries.ie
[13] Statute of Limitations 1957 · irishstatutebook.ie
[14] SCA 10,968 cases pending, Irish Times · October 2025
[15] Civil Reform Bill 2025, healthcare litigation reform · Mason Hayes Curran
[16] PI Guidelines inflation controversy · Irish Legal News
[17] Afolabi v Southdoc Services [2026] IEHC 110 · Irish Legal News (February 2026)
Related guides: Claim process · Eligibility · Compensation · Injury types · Funding your claim · Date of knowledge · Expert reports · Breach of duty
In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement. This statement is made in compliance with RE.8 of S.I. No. 229 of 2019.
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different and outcomes vary. Consult a qualified solicitor for advice specific to your situation.
Gary Matthews Solicitors
Medical negligence solicitors, Dublin
We help people every day of the week (weekends and bank holidays included) that have either been injured or harmed as a result of an accident or have suffered from negligence or malpractice.
Contact us at our Dublin office to get started with your claim today
