Gary Matthews Solicitors

A 12-year-old girl with a life expectancy of six months who had sued over an alleged delay in the diagnosis of a tumour on her spine has settled her High Court action for €675,000.

Her mother, who provides 24-hour care for her daughter, broke down in the High Court as she told how the young girl is “not going to last”.

The girl, who cannot be identified by order of the court, had first gone to a hospital emergency department two years ago complaining of unexplained neck pain but she was diagnosed as having a cyst.

Her counsel, Eugene Gleeson SC, told the court time “is now running out” for the 12-year-old. It was their case that her spinal tumour should have been diagnosed two years earlier and the girl was treated for the wrong condition. Their expert, he said, would say the tumour was always high grade with a “dismal prognosis” of between nine months and three years.

To read the full story please visit:
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/terminally-ill-girl-12-settles-action-over-alleged-delay-to-tumour-diagnosis-1.4864659

https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/parents-to-gain-right-to-request-flexible-working

Parents and carers will gain a right to request flexible working, including the right to request compressed or reduced hours, under legislation expected to be enacted by the summer.

The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill, now being drafted by the Office of the Attorney General, will transpose elements of the EU Work Life Balance Directives into Irish law.

The bill includes provisions introducing five days’ leave per year for serious medical care and extending the current entitlement to breastfeeding/lactation breaks under the Maternity Protection Acts from six months to two years.

Children’s minister Roderic O’Gorman said: “I want to ensure that parents and carers can be supported to balance their working and family lives. Through the Work Life Balance Bill, they can have peace of mind that work will allow time for the responsibilities that caring brings.

“The proposals I have brought to government today will complement family leave and other entitlements already in place and will provide additional flexibility.”

Johnny Depp’s testimony continued on Wednesday afternoon with more bombshell revelations about his marriage to Amber Heard. After lunch, the 58-year-old actor returned to the stand and described in detail about multiple times he was allegedly abused. During the “staircase incident,” the actor claimed Heard “roundhouse” punched him in the cheek.

“[Amber’s sister] stepped in front of Amber, facing Amber, to stop Amber,” he alleged.

The court then heard a recording of Heard and Depp arguing in which she admits to starting “a physical fight” with the actor.

“I didn’t punch you… I was hitting you, it was not punching you. You didn’t get punched, you got hit… I did not f****** deck you, I f****** was hitting you,” the actress can be heard saying. “But you’re fine, I did not hurt you… you’re a f****** baby. You are such a baby, grow the f*** up, Johnny.”

“What was just played on these audio recordings was very much the tone, and the aggression, and the attitude, and the need for a fight from Ms. Heard,” Depp said afterwards.

To read the full story please visit:
https://www.aol.co.uk/entertainment/amber-heard-admits-hitting-johnny-221111988.html