Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 2106Negligence (civil personal injury) · Co. Dublin · 1 Jul 2020

Court dismisses maternity hospital worker's damages claim over thumb injury

Patricia McNevin, 67, a former household staff member at The National Maternity Hospital, had her civil negligence claim dismissed by Judge Fiona O'Sullivan at the Circuit Civil Court after she broke her thumb while moving a baby warming incubator in July 2020. The judge found she failed to prove negligence on the part of her former employer.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court12 Mar
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatPatricia McNevin gave the judge five different accounts of how she broke her thumb (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe is now retired (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe suffered a deep, jagged-shaped laceration and fracture of her right thumb (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe broke her thumb while wheeling a baby warming incubator through a door (irishtimes.com)
  • whatClamps attached to both sides of the unit added to its width (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe had to move the unit by herself as she was the only person available (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe had 28 years with the hospital (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe hospital had highly commended her for her competence and service (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe incident left her with reduced power, intermittent pain and difficulty in fully flexing her thumb joint (irishtimes.com)
  • whereShe lives at Cairnwood Avenue, Cookstown Road, Tallaght (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident occurred in July 2020 (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeShe sued the hospital alleging negligence, breach of duty and a failure to provide a safe workplace (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge refused to award legal costs against Ms McNevin (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe court considered it had been an appropriate case to bring to court (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe hospital denied her claims (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 12 Mar2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Court dismisses maternity hospital worker’s damages claim over thumb injury

    Circuit Civil Court dismissed the claim; judge noted five inconsistent accounts of the incident and refused to award costs against the long-term employee.

    victim, Patricia McNevin, 67, female, irish (judged from name)Patricia McNevin