PRACTICAL UPDATE IN MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE CLAIMS
19 November 2025 2.00pm – 4.00pm
VIA WEBINAR
Dr Declan O’Rourke – Medicolegal perspectives from a Paediatric Neurologist
Mr Ellis Downes – Negligence or Bad Luck in Obstetrics & Gynaecology – How To Decide?
Denise Mulcahy BL – Recent Practice Directions and Judgments
CHAIRS:
Avril Scally, Member of Litigation Committee and Partner in Clinical Negligence at Lavelle Partners LLP.
Jenny Foley, Member of Litigation Committee and Healthcare Partner, RDJ LLP
Speakers
Dr Declan O’Rourke, Consultant Paediatric Neurologist
Dr. Declan O’Rourke is a Paediatric Neurologist at Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street. He has undergone Fellowship training in Epilepsy at Boston Children’s Hospital and in Neuromuscular Medicine at Washington University of St. Louis. He has been awarded Doctorate of Medicine from UCD. He is Associate Director of Research at Children’s Health Ireland and Associate Clinical Professor at UCD, He is Clinical Lead in Paediatric Neurology across CHI. He manages a large volume of patients across Ireland with acute and chronic paediatric neurological disorders and is Principal Investigator in a number of neuromuscular clinical trials. He has special interests in Epilepsy, Neonatal Neurology and Neuromuscular Disorders
Mr Ellis Downes, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist
Mr Ellis Downes FRCOG is one of the UK’s leading Obstetricians & Gynaecologists. He has published extensively in the areas of endoscopic surgery and has a wide-ranging clinical practice. He has supported the work of National and International Medical Societies at Board level and advised the MHRA and NICE on strategy and Guideline development. He has undertaken medico-legal work for over 20 years, is CUBS certified and was awarded the title of “Gynaecology Expert of the Year 2025” by Lawyer Magazine. He is instructed in the UK, Ireland and a number of overseas jurisdictions.
Denise Mulcahy BL
Denise Mulcahy B.L. is a practising barrister called to the Bar of Ireland in 2007, with a particular focus on medical negligence litigation. Denise was appointed to the clinical negligence panel for the state claims agency over 10 years ago and has accumulated broad-ranging experience across complex birth injury, brain injury and catastrophic injury claims. She acts for both plaintiffs and defendants in contentious litigation and represents parties at coroners’ inquests and mediations.