Parents of Arklow Boy with Autism Win Court Case

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Parents of Arklow Boy with Autism Win Court Case

Thursday, May 17 2007

Irish Autism Action has welcomed a High Court of almost €61,000 to the parents of a six-year-old boy with autism.

The judgement was made because of delays by the Health Service Executive in providing appropriate services for the child, Sean Ó Cuanachain.

Mr Justice Michael Peart said there had been a breach in the HSE's duty of care towards Seán. Delays in therapy and other treatment were unacceptable.

But the judge said Sean was now making good progress and awarded damages lower than expected by some observers.

Sean's parents, Cian and Yvonne Ó Cuanachain, of Arklow, Co Wicklow, sued the state. They want 30 hours a week of Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA), the best standard of education for autistic children.

The parents said they felt vindicated, but had experienced an 'unending nightmare' in their battle with the authorities for Sean's treatment.

The case lasted 68 days and cost more than €5 million. It has been viewed as a test case for families seeking ABA.

Last month parents of children with autism marched on the Dáil demanding that the Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin, increase ABA services in Ireland.

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