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Irish Times
30-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Children prescribed anti-psychotic drug while in Camhs care settle High Court actions
Two teenagers who were prescribed an antipsychotic drug while undergoing treatment with the South Kerry Child and Adolescent and Mental Health Services (Camhs) have settled their High Court actions for a total of €135,000. In one of the cases, the then nine-year-old boy gained 3.5kg in weight in the six months he was on the drug, Risperidone, which the High Court heard was not appropriate and should not have been prescribed. They had sued the HSE over the care they received at South Kerry Camhs. None of the children can be identified by order of the court. The settlements were reached after mediation. Robert Fitzpatrick SC with Siun Leonowicz BL told the court that the first boy had been referred to the Camhs service when he was under 10 years of age and he was prescribed the antipsychotic drug Risperidone. READ MORE Counsel said the drug should never have been prescribed, and it was dispensed for another five months in 2019. The young boy, he said, suffered side effects including weight gain and he had gained 3.5kg over a 23-week period. At one stage, counsel said the boy was prescribed an appetite suppressant medication which was also inappropriate. Mr Fitzpatrick said the appetite suppressant medication appeared to be given in a misplaced effort to counteract the Risperidone, which should not have been prescribed. Counsel described it as a 'case of double error.' Approving a €60,000 settlement in the teenager's case, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said it was fair and reasonable, and he wished the boy the best for the future. In the second case, a 16-year-old boy settled for €75,000. Mr Fitzpatrick said the boy, when he was nine years old, had been put on Risperidone and was taking it for five months in 2018. Counsel said the antipsychotic was never appropriate for the child. Counsel said the boy had been put on an ADHD medication which he had taken before and from which he previously suffered side effects. By putting the boy on the ADHD drug again, counsel said he had been needlessly put through side effects. Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Coffey conveyed his best wishes to the teenager. In a third case, a 16-year-old boy was awarded €17,500 in relation to his care at South Kerry Camhs. Mr Fitzpatrick told the court that the boy when he was six years old had been assessed by the service, diagnosed with ADHD and started on medication. Counsel said his case related to a 23-month gap in later follow up. At one stage counsel said the boy was prescribed the antipsychotic drug Risperidone but thanks 'to the good sense of his father, he never gave him the medication.' His case solely related to lost follow up.
BreakingNews.ie
29-07-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Children prescribed anti psychotic drug while in CAMHS care settle actions
Two teenagers who were prescribed an anti-psychotic drug while undergoing treatment with the South Kerry Child and Adolescent and Mental Health Services have settled their High Court actions for a total of €140,000. In one of the cases, the then almost 10-year-old boy gained 3.5kg in weight in the six months he was on the drug, Risperidone, which the High Court heard was not appropriate and should not have been prescribed. Advertisement They had sued the HSE over the care they received at South Kerry Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). None of the children can be identified by order of the court. The settlements were reached after mediation. Robert Fitzpatrick SC with Siun Leonowicz BL told the court that the first boy had been referred to the CAMHS service when he was under ten years of age, and he was prescribed the anti-psychotic drug Risperidone. Counsel said the drug should never have been prescribed, and it was dispensed for another five months in 2019. The young boy, he said, suffered side effects including weight gain, and he had gained 3.5 kg in weight over a 23-week period. At one stage, counsel said the boy was prescribed an appetite suppressant medication, which counsel said was also inappropriate. Mr Fitzpatrick said the appetite suppressant medication appeared to be given in a misplaced effort to counteract the Risperidone, which should not have been prescribed. Counsel described it as a 'case of double error.' Advertisement Approving a €65,000 settlement in the teenager's case, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said it was fair and reasonable, and he wished the boy the best for the future. In the second case, a 16-year-old boy settled his action for €75,000. Counsel said the boy, when he was nine years old, had been put on Risperidone and was taking it for five months in 2018. Counsel said the anti-psychotic was never appropriate for the child. Counsel said the boy had been put on an ADHD medication, which he had taken before and from which he previously suffered side effects. By putting the boy on the ADHD drug again, counsel said he had been needlessly put through side effects. Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Paul Coffey conveyed his best wishes to the teenager. Advertisement In another case, a 16-year-old boy was awarded €17,500 in relation to his care at South Kerry CAMHS. Counsel told the court that the boy, when he was six years old, had been assessed by the service, diagnosed with ADHD and started on medication. Counsel said his case related to a 23-month gap in later follow-up. At one stage, counsel said the boy was prescribed the anti-psychotic drug Risperidone, but thanks 'to the good sense of his father, he never gave him the medication.' His case solely related to lost follow-up.
Irish Examiner
29-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Children prescribed anti-psychotic drug while in Kerry Camhs care settle actions
Two teenagers who were prescribed an anti-psychotic drug while undergoing treatment with the South Kerry Child and Adolescent and Mental Health Services have settled their High Court actions for a total of €140,000. In one of the cases, the then almost 10-year-old boy gained 3.5kg in weight in the six months he was on the drug Risperidone, which the High Court heard was not appropriate and should not have been prescribed. They had sued the HSE over the care they received at South Kerry Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs). None of the children can be identified by order of the court. The settlements were reached after mediation. Robert Fitzpatrick SC, with Siun Leonowicz BL, told the court the first boy had been referred to the Camhs service when he was under 10 years of age and he was prescribed the anti-psychotic drug Risperidone. Counsel said the drug should never have been prescribed and it was dispensed for another five months in 2019. The young boy, he said, suffered side-effects, including weight-gain, and he had gained 3.5kg in weights over a 23-week period. At one stage, counsel said the boy was prescribed an appetite-suppressant medication, which counsel said was also inappropriate. Mr Fitzpatrick said the appetite suppressant medication appeared to be given in a misplaced effort to counteract the Risperidone, which should not have been prescribed. Counsel described it as a 'case of double error'. Approving a €65,000 settlement in the teenager's case, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said it was fair and reasonable, and he wished the boy the best for the future. In the second case, a 16-year-old boy settled his action for €75,000. Counsel said the boy when he was nine years old had been put on Risperidone and was taking it for five months in 2018. Counsel said the anti-psychotic was never appropriate for the child. Counsel said the boy had been put on an ADHD medication which he had taken before and from which he previously suffered side-effects. By putting the boy on the ADHD drug again, counsel said he had been needlessly put through side-effects. Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Paul Coffey conveyed his best wishes to the teenager. In another case a 16-year old boy was awarded €17,500 in relation to his care at South Kerry Camhs. Counsel told the court the boy, when he was six years old, had been assessed by the service, diagnosed with ADHD and started on medication. Counsel said his case related to a 23-month gap in later follow up. At one stage, counsel said the boy was prescribed the anti-psychotic drug Risperidone, but thanks ' to the good sense of his father, he never gave him the medication'. His case solely related to lost follow-up.
Irish Independent
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Sligo concert raises a fantastic €7,000 for local branch of Parkinsons Ireland
On April 29, the Hawk's Well Theatre hosted a unique concert, Voice of Parkinsons and Friends, a variety night featuring the Sligo Parkinson's Choir, with proceeds going to Parkinsons Ireland, North West Branch which helps people and families affected by Parkinson's in the local area. As well as music from the Sligo Parkinson's Choir, the sold-out show with MC Robert Fitzpatrick also featured performances from local comedian John Colleary, musicians Ray Coen and Steve Wickham, up and coming Sligo band Phoenix who were delighted to perform with Steve Wickham, music from Edel Fahy and the Drumcliffe Children's Choir. Along with raising awareness of the disease, the concert was also planned to fundraise to support people living with Parkinson's disease and to set up similar choirs elsewhere. The Sligo Parkinsons' Choir was set up in 2024 with the help of Miriam Cunningham, Fitness4All and Raymond Carty from the Orpheus choir in Sligo. Raymond invited friends from the Orpheus choir and Eunjoo Goh to help them prepare for their performance. Chairperson of Parkinsons Ireland Northwest Branch Kathleen Kennedy along with committee members Pat Benson and Kevin Fitzsimons put the evening together and were assisted on the night by David and Aisling Woods and many other family and friends. The Parkinsons Ireland Northwest Branch would like to thank everyone who supported the evening through donations, buying tickets, offering raffle prizes etc. A total of €7,000 was raised from the event.
