Hospital claims former patient's widow is posting false information about it on social media

High Court reporters

A private hospital has brought High Court proceedings against the widow of a former patient who it claims is publishing false and misleading information about it on social media.

The claim has been made in proceedings taken by the Beacon Hospital Sandyford Limited against Veronica Delaney, who it alleges is engaged in a prolonged campaign of spreading falsehoods of the most serious kinds against the hospital and its medical professionals.

It is alleged the defendant's husband John was a former patient of the hospital.

The hospital claims he died of a form of blood cancer, known as IgG kappa myeloma, on April 1st, 2022.

The hospital, represented by Owen Keany BL, claims Mrs Delaney, with an address at Weston Crescent, Lucan, Co Dublin, raised concerns about the care the hospital provided to her husband between March 2022 and up to the time of his death.

The hospital claims it engaged extensively with her, with sympathy and sensitivity, following the immense loss she suffered.

However, it claims that over the last 12 months she has engaged in an unwarranted campaign against the hospital, and has allegedly attacked it with a litany of false allegations.

It claims that since September 2022 she has posted dozens of untrue statements on social media platforms Twitter/X and LinkedIn using different handles and names.

The hospital, through its solicitors Sherwin O'Riordan LLP, corresponded with Mrs Delaney with a view to having the statements removed.

The hospital claims this has not been possible, and allege her statements have become more extreme and damaging.

The court also heard Mrs Delaney has brought High Court proceedings which it is claimed have been dismissed.

As a result of the various statements online, the hospital is seeking orders against Mrs Delaney, including injunctions restraining her from publishing statements of a false and misleading nature concerning the hospital.

It also seeks an order restraining the defendant from publishing any material asserting a number of things, including that there was an alleged cover-up of her husband's death.

The matter came before Ms Justice Siobhan Stack on Wednesday.

The judge granted the hospital permission on an ex-parte basis to serve short notice of the injunction application on the defendant.

The matter will return before the court later this month.