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. 1987Medical negligence (civil personal injury) · Co. Cork · 21 Jan 2021

Family settle High Court action against Mercy University Hospital over death of Michael McGowan

The family of Michael McGowan, 71, who died from cardiac arrest at Mercy University Hospital Cork in January 2021, settled their High Court action against the hospital without an admission of liability. The case concerned alleged failures in follow-up echocardiogram care for his aortic stenosis diagnosis during the pandemic.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court27 Mar
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMichael McGowan was a 71-year-old man from Cork who died at Mercy University Hospital during the pandemic (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMichael McGowan was diagnosed with aortic stenosis in 2013 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA freedom of information request showed 747 echocardiograms were performed on an outpatient basis between March 2020 and 13 January 2021 (irishtimes.com)
  • whereMichael McGowan was from Dublin Hill, Cork city (irishtimes.com)
  • whereShirley Barry, the claimant, is from Ballycotton, Cork (irishtimes.com)
  • whenMichael McGowan was admitted to the hospital on 14 January 2021 (irishtimes.com)
  • causeMichael McGowan died from cardiac arrest (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe family settled their High Court action against Mercy University Hospital without an admission of liability (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe hospital argued it would be unfair to impose liability during the pandemic (irishtimes.com)
  • courtElaine Morgan SC represented the family in the case (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Mar2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Family settle High Court action against hospital over death of father during pandemic

    Reports the settlement of the McGowan family's High Court action against Mercy University Hospital, including details of the alleged care failures and the hospital's pandemic defence.

    victim, Michael McGowan, 71, male, irish (judged from name)Michael McGowanvictim, Shirley Barry, female, irish (judged from name)Shirley Barry