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. 2544Negligence (civil – medical malpractice) · Co. Kilkenny · 20 Aug 2020

Family of Shane Nolan settles High Court case over death after hospital discharge

Shane Nolan, 44, a father of four from Co Carlow, died of complications from a heart attack in September 2020, more than three weeks after being discharged from St Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny, for chest pain. His wife Fiona Nolan's civil claim against the HSE was settled after mediation, with liability admitted.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court15 Jan
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatShane Nolan was a father of four from Co Carlow who was aged 44 when he died. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA repeat blood test used to diagnose heart problems had allegedly not been carried out before discharge. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe was triaged within 10 minutes of arrival at the emergency department. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe had an ECG scan and a working diagnosis of acute pancreatitis was made, later changed to gastritis. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHis pain was recorded as having settled and he was discharged home after 9am. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe continued to complain of chest discomfort over the following two weeks. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe had another ECG and it was thought he had suffered a type of heart attack. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA stent was later inserted. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAn echocardiogram on 4 September 2020 showed significant damage to the heart. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA community defibrillator was used to shock him and paramedics continued resuscitation for about 40 minutes. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe had an elevated body mass index, a past medical history of smoking and a strong family history of coronary artery disease. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenHe woke up at 3am on 20 August 2020 with sharp belt-like pain in his abdomen and chest radiating to his left shoulder. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenOn 1 September 2020 he again attended the emergency department complaining of chest pain. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenShortly after midnight on 8 September 2020, he suffered further cardiac arrest and lost consciousness. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenHe died on 13 September 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeHe died of complications associated with a heart attack. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtLiability was admitted in the case and it was settled after mediation talks. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe terms of the settlement are confidential. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMr Justice Paul Coffey approved the division of the statutory mental distress payment and extended his deepest sympathy to the Nolan family. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Jan2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Family of man who died weeks after being discharged from emergency department settle case

    Reports the settlement of the case with liability admitted, details the alleged medical negligence including failure to perform a repeat troponin test and a particular cardiac assessment, and provides the full timeline from the initial ED visit on 20 August 2020 to Nolan's death on 13 September 2020.

    victim, Shane Nolan, 44, male, irish (judged from name)Shane Nolanvictim, Fiona Nolan, female, irish (judged from name)Fiona Nolan