University Hospital Galway has “sincerely and unreservedly apologised” to the family of a Portuguese man for deficiencies in the care that led to his death.
Henrique Coelho, aged 26, of An Ruán Mór, Baile Chláir, Co Galway, died on 20 January 2024 at Galway University Hospital.
In a letter sent to his parents in May, the hospital acknowledged that “no words can alleviate your loss” and offered its sincere condolences on Mr Coelho’s “very sad and untimely death”, the letter stated.
At the High Court today, the family was awarded the maximum sum of €35,000 under the Civil Liability Act. Mr Coelho’s ex-wife received €15,000 and his mother, Silvia, received €20,000.
Silvia Gamela sought damages on behalf of her family for loss and damage pursuant to the Civil Liability Acts. This included damages for personal injuries, loss, damage, and expense caused by the negligence and breach of duty by Galway University Hospital (GUH).
The court was told that Mr Coelho was admitted to the Accident and Emergency Department on 18 January 2024 complaining of shortness of breath and chest pain.
He was assessed by a physician who ordered an electrocardiogram (ECG), blood tests and a chest X-ray. Despite abnormalities in his right and left calves and an abnormal ECG, it was concluded that the deceased was likely suffering from a lower respiratory tract infection, and he was discharged.
In the early hours of 20 January 2024, Mr Coelho became acutely short of breath and he was taken by ambulance back to the hospital. During the transfer he collapsed after going into cardiac arrest and later died.
An autopsy concluded that a pulmonary thromboembolism, a blood clot restricting blood flow to an artery in the lung caused by deep vein thrombosis, was the cause of death. Obesity was also noted as another significant condition.
Mr Coelho’s mother claimed that her son’s death was caused by the negligence and breach of duty by GUH. This included the failure to identify swelling of the calves, because the right calf was 5cm greater in circumference than the left.
It was further alleged that the hospital also failed to identify signs of deep vein thrombosis and other related symptoms, which the plaintiffs argued showed that pulmonary embolism was likely. The family said that appropriate blood tests were not carried out.
Overall, the family of the deceased said that the failings amounted to not providing a safe and effective system of care for the deceased, causing him to suffer a pulmonary embolism.
The court heard that the deceased was a much-loved member of the family, who provided support, financial and otherwise, to both his parents.
“We were more than mother and son. We were best friends. [Henrique was] my confidant, my protector. We went through so many things. My son was special. He was generous. He was a giver, a carer,” Silvia Gamela told RTÉ News outside the High Court after the settlement was agreed.
Ciaran Tansey, of Damian Tansey Solicitors, who represented the family, told RTÉ News that the family have found it “incredibly difficult to stomach what has happened”.
“Their child, Henrique, was Silvia’s only child, and it’s been incredibly difficult for everybody, particularly Silvia and indeed her wider family. It’s an indictment of the Irish health service,” Mr Tansey said.
Mr Tansey added that an inquest into Henrique’s death was held on 19 May 2026 in Galway City. The coroner investigated all the circumstances of his death and entered a verdict of medical misadventure upon hearing all of the evidence.