Boy prescribed anti-psychotic drug while under care of Kerry CAMHS settles action for €42k

High Court Reporter

A boy who it was claimed was prescribed an anti-psychotic drug while under the care of Kerry CAMHS has settled a High Court action for €42,500.

The boy who is now 17 years of age cannot be named by order of the court.

His counsel Robert Fitzpatrick SC told the High Court the boy, when he was 10 years of age had been prescribed the anti-psychotic drug risperidone which Counsel said was “utterly inappropriate.”

The boy he said took the drug and it was noticed he was very sleepy. Through the intervention of his parents, he stopped taking the drug after two weeks.

Counsel said it took another two weeks for the child to get back to himself.

The boy who is on the autism spectrum, along with his parents lost trust in the system for a time the court heard, but the boy who is now 17 years of age is still under the care of CAMHS.

Counsel said the teenager and his family are now happy he is getting the right treatment.

The family, counsel said were upset over the whole experience.

A doctor’s report presented to the court said the child should not have been prescribed risperidone.

Counsel said the injury to the boy would fall within the moderate category to but he felt that there probably should have been an uplift because the child was a vulnerable individual.

Approving the settlement Mr Justice Paul Coffey said it was fair and reasonable and he wished the teenager and his family the very best.