Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Widow settles 'substantial' action against HSE over husband's death

Liam Duggan died from septicaemia at the University Hospital Kerry in early 2017.

A TRALEE WOMAN spoke today of her battle to find answers regarding her husband’s death as she settled her action against the HSE for a “substantial” sum.

Liam Duggan, the late husband of Catherine Duggan and young father of two died from septicaemia at the University Hospital Kerry in early 2017.

On 18 March 2017, Liam presented to University Hospital Kerry complaining of abdominal pain with vomiting and diarrhoea. He was discharged on 3 April. Catherine Duggan’s lawyers said today that the HSE admitted that there was a breach of care in a failure to perform a repeat abdominal CT scan to investigate Liam Duggan’s condition before his discharge from hospital.

Fearghal Grimes, the general manager of University Hospital Kerry issued an apology to Catherine Duggan and her children on behalf of the HSE. “University Hospital Kerry would like to acknowledge the deficits of care which resulted in the untimely death of your husband and father, Liam”. 

“We recognise that this loss has had a profound and devastating effect on you and your family,” he added.

The court ruling today ends a four-year legal battle following the sudden death of Liam Duggan.

Catherine Duggan criticised the management of Liam’s care and said that the family had experienced a prolonged search for answers following his death.  “I hope by bringing awareness today that it might save someone else’s life,” she said outside the Four Courts this morning. 

She described the inquest as an “ordeal” and raised questions about the detail given at the inquest, saying that the experience “has been utterly devastating for me and my children”. 

“We have had to fight tooth and nail to bring justice for Liam who should have been in the prime of his life,” she added.

In August 2017, Catherine Duggan told Cork Coroner’s Court that her late husband Liam had been in good health until his sudden death earlier that year and had been teaching numerous children golf daily.

In the aftermath of the tragedy €32,000 was raised to help support the Duggan family.

Following Liam Duggan’s sudden death, Assistant State pathologist Margaret Bolster gave the cause of death as multiple organ failure due to septic shock due to colitis.

She said cases such as Liam Duggan’s normally involve clostridium difficile and that it was “extremely rare” that this was not present.

The HSE has been contacted for comment.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

View 8 comments
Close
8 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mikhail Valtazar
    Favourite Mikhail Valtazar
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 2:55 PM

    There is something truly unnerving about these gatherings of elites.

    202
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gus Sheridan
    Favourite Gus Sheridan
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 5:36 PM

    Noonan needs to be put out to grass, old fart with no fresh ideas

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Doyle
    Favourite Dave Doyle
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 5:56 PM

    @Gus Sheridan: The most dangerous in Ireland. Despises ordinary people and has to the power to make them pay for it.

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thevigilantone
    Favourite Thevigilantone
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 3:05 PM

    Has anyone ever wondered why they showcase Davos and not the bilderberg meetings?

    186
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Benjy Dempsey
    Favourite Benjy Dempsey
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 5:27 PM

    They’ll be patting themselves on the back for this remarkable advance of the capitalist class at the expense of the majority working class.

    “Eight men hold as much wealth as half the planet combined”
    http://www.thejournal.ie/wealth-oxfam-3188533-Jan2017/

    82
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ó Connmhaigh
    Favourite Ó Connmhaigh
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 5:32 PM

    Kenny looks like he was telling a story at the World Angling Championship.
    I wouldn’t be surprised.

    46
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Doyle
    Favourite Dave Doyle
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 5:54 PM

    @Ó Connmhaigh: Telling what he got while dressed as a dame.

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Skillington
    Favourite Tony Skillington
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 8:21 PM

    Just back after nearly a month off and they’re away to Davos to act like the big important players on the world stage they can only begin to wish they were…Davos can have and keep Kenny

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alois Irlmaier
    Favourite Alois Irlmaier
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 10:57 PM

    @Thevigilantone: Why would they if the same Goldman Sach ones goes to both of them?

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jay Finn
    Favourite Jay Finn
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 3:03 PM

    The arrogance of these lads and lassies. Rich people gathering to discuss the worlds problems and issues as if they were elected to power to make decisions on our behalf.

    138
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Christopher Gardiner
    Favourite Christopher Gardiner
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 5:51 PM

    @Jay Finn: Thats just it. EU suits are NOT elected.

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alois Irlmaier
    Favourite Alois Irlmaier
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 11:00 PM

    @Jay Finn: It be an orgy there tonight…

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerry Ryan deG
    Favourite Gerry Ryan deG
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 3:16 PM

    About time they moved to Dublin, the wild west of financial shaenanigans

    102
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Smidgen Dublin
    Favourite Smidgen Dublin
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 2:56 PM

    Davos/WEF is a massively expensive waste of time. I’ve never seen or read any effective, successful initiative they’ve funded, pioneered or implemented. Irish govt has to pay ten of thousands to be a member.

    92
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ursus Major
    Favourite Ursus Major
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 3:11 PM

    @Smidgen Dublin:

    You will never see or read any initiative of Davos/WEF unless you are a member. Its all under the counter stuff. The little people suffer the consequences.

    91
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute classic
    Favourite classic
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 3:49 PM

    It’s the elites world, we’re all just worker ants

    84
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alois Irlmaier
    Favourite Alois Irlmaier
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 10:58 PM

    @classic: When will the US join the EU then???

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mercurial One
    Favourite Mercurial One
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 5:29 PM

    Sure why wouldn’t Kenny and Noonan be there, presiding over a near bankrupt country and still refusing to claim tax due from one of the richest corporations in the world. Just goes to show who’s side these boys are on.

    55
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Daisy Chai NSaw
    Favourite Daisy Chai NSaw
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 4:39 PM

    The One Percenter’s will be giving Noonan an update of NAMA policy and what bits they want.

    55
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan Tooher
    Favourite Declan Tooher
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 4:04 PM

    World business leaders running their latest money making ideas by the school teacher from mayo for his assessment. That or they are telling him what they want him to do.

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Christopher Gardiner
    Favourite Christopher Gardiner
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 5:53 PM

    @Declan Tooher: Exactly. Went to train as a school teacher and ends up leading a country. Wasn’t it a great B. ed course he did. Only in sad Ireland.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adrian
    Favourite Adrian
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 4:51 PM

    Shouldn’t these donkeys kenny and noonan be back in their own country working hard in planning the Irish strategy for the hard brexit.

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Derek Lyster
    Favourite Derek Lyster
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 5:08 PM

    Yes they should be back here sorting out our problems but they needed someone out there to poke fun at so these pair of clowns went

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adrian
    Favourite Adrian
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 5:30 PM

    In fairness, they’d be of little use back here.
    They already sold all the property they could to the vulture funds and they can’t do much more with the corporation tax to compete with Britain for business, options are limited there, so what else can they do?
    Bit embarassing that Britain could take business off of a tax haven though.

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alex Falcone
    Favourite Alex Falcone
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 2:58 PM

    Rob’s a neighbour of mine, very nice guy, extremely hard working. I wish him well at the Forum.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendan Mason
    Favourite Brendan Mason
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 8:04 PM

    These people have two problems
    1. We don’t have enough
    2. We want more.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kerry Blake
    Favourite Kerry Blake
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 6:59 PM

    Never forget 1% own 50% of the global wealth. Most of them will be gathered in Davos. Talking about “‘Responsive and Responsible Leadership’” They mostly will be un-elected people discussing that. I see Noonan will be attending will he be standing at the airport to greet the great and the good?

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick Mac
    Favourite Patrick Mac
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 6:24 PM

    gender balance and climate change – two non-issues if ever there were.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alois Irlmaier
    Favourite Alois Irlmaier
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 10:17 PM
    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendan Mason
    Favourite Brendan Mason
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 7:40 PM

    Some amount of bull $#it been spoken in a confined space. You be a fair man to endure 5 minutes of it. This is an ostintation of wealth.
    Can you get me a large Courvoisier XO brandy served in a Waterford Crystal Glass on a Silver Tray.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alois Irlmaier
    Favourite Alois Irlmaier
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 10:13 PM

    So a place where the bigger the brown envelope you are willing to hand over then the further up the tree you can go to meet the one you want to bribe?

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alois Irlmaier
    Favourite Alois Irlmaier
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 10:28 PM

    Like in a lap dancing club that is really a brothel???

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Drew TheChinaman :)
    Favourite Drew TheChinaman :)
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 5:32 PM

    How pathetic must your life be if your jealous and bitter that people are at a work conference… and how paranoid and unstable to think they’re controlling your lives or plotting world domination.

    It’s the same as any other conference, wearing name tags, making small talk, listening to self congratulating or promoting speeches, pretending to remember people you met there last year.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Doyle
    Favourite Dave Doyle
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 6:01 PM

    @Drew TheChinaman :): The 1% didn’t get to be the 1% without a nod and a wink from their political servants.

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alois Irlmaier
    Favourite Alois Irlmaier
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 10:15 PM

    @Drew TheChinaman :): Yes it is all funs and laughs?
    https://www.rt.com/op-edge/373943-davos-elite-play-acting-refugees/

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mike Holmes
    Favourite Mike Holmes
    Report
    Jan 19th 2017, 9:39 AM

    Cultural levelling and its sinister twin cultural ecletism at work again.World citizen? Its official they have finally lost the plot.Not surprising to see the underbelly of the Irish politico in attendance.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bosco Hanley
    Favourite Bosco Hanley
    Report
    Jan 17th 2017, 7:05 PM

    Kenny and Noonan a bunch of asses, they havent a clue, once there pockets are lined. Were going back to way we were into a bubble and that ass Kenny cant see it

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds