May Craig, a 76-year-old pensioner from Raphoe, Co Donegal, was a mother of seven and a grandmother. She died in June 2022 following two admissions to Letterkenny University Hospital in the weeks before her death.
Her daughter, Elaine Devenney of Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal, brought a High Court action against the HSE on behalf of the family concerning the care Mrs Craig received during those admissions.
It was claimed that, in two admissions to Letterkenny University Hospital on 19 May and 11 June 2022, Mrs Craig was not properly or adequately investigated or treated. It was further claimed that on more than one occasion the opportunity to establish a correct diagnosis was missed and that she was not appropriately treated as a result. All of the claims were denied.
Mrs Craig had been referred by her GP to the hospital in May 2022 complaining of light-headedness. She was reviewed, tests were carried out and she was admitted to the hospital cardiac care unit. A permanent pacemaker was inserted on 20 May 2022 and she was discharged on 23 May 2022.
It was claimed that, four days later, Mrs Craig was referred by her GP again to the hospital emergency department. She was reviewed by a doctor and it was noted that she had no chest pain or palpitations. It was claimed that congestive cardiac failure was noted. It was further claimed that she was seen by a junior doctor, that pneumonia was diagnosed and that she was prescribed antibiotics and discharged.
It was claimed that, on 11 June 2022, an ambulance was called to Mrs Craig’s home and she was brought to hospital, where she was admitted with acute decompensated heart failure. It was claimed that no bed was available in the cardiac care unit. On 12 June, it was claimed that Mrs Craig suffered a cardiac arrest, was resuscitated and brought to the intensive care unit, where she was later declared dead.
Mrs Craig was 76 and a mother of seven and a grandmother. Her death was felt deeply by her family, who pursued the proceedings to seek answers and recognition of what had happened.
Counsel for the family described the case as sad and tragic, and Mr Justice Paul Coffey conveyed his deepest sympathy to Mrs Craig’s family.
Cases involving the death of a mother and grandmother are amongst the most devastating we ever encounter. For families, the legal process is not about numbers or legal consequences alone but about proper recognition of the scale of their loss and the lifelong impact of what has happened for the loss of a mother and grandmother.
The action came before Mr Justice Paul Coffey in the High Court, where the case was settled without an admission of liability. The court noted the settlement and approved the division of the €35,000 statutory mental distress payment among the family.
As part of the proceedings, an unreserved apology from Letterkenny University Hospital was read out in court to Mrs Craig’s family. In a letter read on behalf of the hospital, manager Sean Murphy expressed sincere condolences and apologised for “the devastating loss of May”. The letter stated that the standard of care delivered to Mrs Craig during her admissions in May and June 2022 was not to the standard the hospital believed would be appropriate, and expressed deep regret for the sorrow and distress caused to the family.
Because the settlement was reached without any admission of liability in the proceedings, the claims made on the family’s behalf were not determined by the court and remained denied on the record.
Cases concerning hospital care before a patient’s death often turn on whether symptoms were properly investigated, whether appropriate treatment was provided at each stage of admission, and whether earlier intervention might have made a difference. Where a hospital acknowledges that care fell below the standard it considers appropriate, that recognition can matter greatly to bereaved families, even where the legal proceedings conclude by settlement.
For families, reaching a settlement, and receiving a direct apology from the hospital, can provide an important measure of recognition and a degree of closure after a profoundly difficult experience. Every case is different and outcomes depend on the individual circumstances.
Hussey Fraser Solicitors represented Mrs Craig’s family throughout the proceedings, instructing counsel and preparing the evidence relied upon in support of the family’s case. John Browne, Partner at Hussey Fraser Solicitors, acted on behalf of the family.
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This case study relates to High Court proceedings reported in April 2026. Names, dates and details are intended to reflect contemporaneous court reporting as accurately as possible. The proceedings were settled without an admission of liability, and the claims referred to were denied and were not determined by the court. Anyone seeking clarification or further information in relation to this case is welcome to contact John Browne, Partner at Hussey Fraser Solicitors, directly.
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