Partner

Orla Kelly


Orla qualified as a Solicitor in 2014, having complete her traineeship with the firm. Since joining the firm in 2012, Orla has gained a variety of experience acting for clients and their families.Orla has a particular focus on medical negligence and defective medical device claims, including acting for clients who have received the recalled DePuy ASR hip device. Orla is also a Registered Pharmacist and previously worked for a number of years as a hospital clinical pharmacist. Her combined knowledge of pharmacy and law benefits her work in the Medical Negligence team at the firm.  She listens and responds to individual clients’ varying needs.

Qualifications / Associations

  • Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Law
  • Honours Master’s Degree in Pharmacy
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy
  • Admitted to the Roll of Solicitors 2014
  • Member of Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland
  • Member of Action Against Medical Accidents

Personal

Outside of the office, Orla enjoys playing and watching most sports.

Orla's Success Stories


Settlement for Lady following negligent prescription of oral contraceptive


Orla Kelly and Angela O’Donovan in the Medical Negligence Department recently acted on behalf of a lovely lady who was negligently prescribed an oral contraceptive which was inappropriate for her, by her Consultant Gynaecologist.  As a result, the Plaintiff developed bilateral multiple pulmonary emboli. Thankfully she received treatment quickly which saved her life.  However, the […]

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Hospitals admit liability and apologise over care failings of Cork boy with brain tumour


Orla Kelly and the team at Cantillons represented the family of the late Jack Doran in the High Court in Dublin in fatal proceedings against Children’s Health Ireland regarding Temple Street Hospital and the Mercy University Hospital. It is no exaggeration to say that this was one of the saddest medical negligence cases I have […]

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Kerry Boy Settles Case Against Cork University Hospital and Crumlin Children’s Hospital For €4million interim settlement for five years due to medical negligence in his care


Orla Kelly and the medical negligence team acted on behalf of John O’Brien a minor, instructed by his mother. We brought proceedings arising out of the failings in the care given to him at various stages during the first year of his life at Cork University Hospital and also Crumlin Children’s Hospital.  Extensive reports were […]

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Settlement for Urology Medical Negligence


Orla Kelly assisted by Angela O’Donovan and Michelle Horgan in the Medical Negligence Department assisted a deserving couple in proceedings, arising out of the negligent medical treatment at a hospital and by his Consultant Urologist. His case concerned the fact that he was advised to undergo a urological surgery which was inappropriate for him and […]

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Kerry boy with cerebral palsy settles case against University Maternity Hospital Limerick for €3.75m for failings in neonatal care


Orla Kelly and the medical negligence team acted on behalf of Kyle Flavin a minor, instructed by his parents. They brought proceedings arising out of the failings in the care given to him during the first few days of his life in the neonatal unit in Limerick.  Extensive reports were gathered to support liability and […]

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Failings in medical care at Cork University Hospital lead to the untimely death of a 75 year old Cork man


Orla Kelly assisted by Angela O’Donovan acted on behalf of Geraldine regarding the death of her beloved father in December 2017. A settlement was reached at Mediation and an expression of regret given by the HSE.  The matter was ruled by the Court approving the settlement.  Coffey J extended his sympathies to all involved.  Outside […]

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Award for devastating negligent spinal cord injury


Orla Kelly assisted by Angela O’Donovan in the Medical Negligence Department acted on behalf of a lovely, deserving couple in proceedings, arising out of the lady’s catastrophic spinal injury.  The injury was caused to her spine when a series of two consecutive spinal surgeries carried out by her orthopaedic surgeon left her paraplegic.  We gathered […]

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Death of 57 year old man following deficits of care amounting to medical negligence at Cork University Hospital


Orla Kelly and the medical negligence team were pleased to act on behalf of Mrs Colette Fennelly and her daughter Megan regarding the sad and needless premature passing of their beloved husband and father in Cork University Hospital. The hospital ultimately apologised for the admitted failings.  The family were devastated to learn that his death […]

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Another substantial out of court settlement for couple following misreading of her cervical slides and surgical negligence by her Consultant Gynaecologist


Orla Kelly and the Medical Negligence Team were pleased to assist a lady who developed cervical cancer following a misreporting of her cervical slides which if reported correctly at that stage, would have avoided her developing cervical cancer.  In addition, she received negligent treatment from her Consultant Gynaecologist, who performed a subtotal instead of a […]

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Large settlement following unnecessary major surgery


Orla Kelly, assisted by Angela O’Donovan, represented a gentleman who was inappropriately advised that he had a cancerous neuroendocrine tumour and required urgent surgery.  Terrified that he had cancer and taking his Consultant’s advice he duly underwent major surgery without delay and a lengthy recovery period and time off work. Following the surgery, he was […]

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Significant out of court settlement for couple following misreading of three of her cervical slides


Orla Kelly and the medical negligence team were pleased to assist another deserving couple whose lives were changed by the CervicalCheck scandal.  This couple brought proceedings arising out of the misreading of three successive cervical slides in 2011, 2013 and 2014.  Extensive reports were gathered to demonstrate their extensive physical and psychological injuries.  The proceedings […]

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Settlement for Lady following misreading of Cervical slides


Orla Kelly as part of the Medical Negligence Team represented a lady who was part of the 221 Cervical Check Group and who had her previous smear test misreported.  She suffered psychiatric injury and disruption to her life as part of her claim. The matter was hard fought by the two laboratories involved in the […]

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A 28 day battle to get justice for a Lady following a delayed cancer diagnosis.


The Medical Negligence team acted on behalf of a lady who presented to her General Practitioner (‘GP’) in June 2015, with a complaint that she was passing blood.  This complaint required an urgent review as it is a cardinal symptom of cancer.  The GP’s plan was to refer her for a urology assessment.  However, the […]

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Significant out-of-court settlement achieved by Cantillons Solicitors arising from the delayed diagnosis and treatment of a bowel obstruction


Aisling Maher and Orla Kelly of the Medical Negligence acted on behalf of a lady who attended the Defendant Hospital, when she was 36 weeks pregnant with twins, complaining of tenderness in the right side of her abdomen, vomiting, severe pain in her abdomen, back and pelvis and constipation. No clear diagnosis was reached and […]

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€23million total settlement for young Cork boy who was brain damaged at birth


The medical negligence team at Cantillons including Orla Kelly and Ernest Cantillon were delighted to assist this deserving little boy Lee Gibson and his devoted mother Aileen and family in achieving a fantastic, ground breaking settlement totalling €23million.  Lee has now been awarded a final settlement, which brings his long journey through the court system […]

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Cantillons successfully represented a lady in proceedings brought by her regarding medical negligence which caused her husband’s untimely death.


Orla Kelly as part of the Medical Negligence Team was instructed by a lady regarding the tragic circumstances surrounding her late husband’s untimely death.     His demise was due to the failings in the Recovery Unit and ITU at Cork University Hospital.   After an internal investigation, Cork University Hospital apologised for these failings in March 2017.  […]

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Significant Settlement for Negligent Knee Surgery which led to Septic Arthritis of client’s knee


Orla Kelly of the Medical Negligence team at Cantillons acted for a gentleman who suffered life changing injuries following inappropriate surgery to his knee which led to development of a severe infection which was inappropriately treated.  Ultimately, he required a number of procedures to his knee followed by multiple revision surgeries.  He endured prolonged hospital […]

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Settlement negotiated by Orla Kelly of Cantillons following Prescription Error


Orla Kelly as part of the Medical Negligence Team was instructed by a gentleman who suffered a heart attack.  Following some investigation as to the reason for the heart attack it transpired that his GP had inadvertently omitted to prescribe a medication which had been advised by the cardiology Consultants and which was designed to […]

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Solicitor Referrals to a Medical Consultant – A step too far or prudent practice?


Article by Órla Kelly which featured in the December Bar Review (at page 26) regarding the topical subject of solicitor referrals to medical consultants and professionals. This can be an important step in investigating a case which is necessary in order to properly represent our clients. https://lnkd.in/drtSjWn Recently Barr J adversely commented on the practice of Solicitors […]

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Recalled DePuy ASR hip device caused untold hardship to victims


Orla Kelly, Partner contributed to this article and accompanying video regarding the recalled DePuy Hip devices.  Orla and the medical negligence team have successfully represented a number of clients who have had their lives altered dramatically since they received these failed devices.  Orla was able to use that experience when contributing to this Irish Times […]

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Orla Kelly on TodayFM’s The Matt Cooper Show regarding the Cervical Cancer Scandal


TodayFM The Matt Cooper Show – Thursday 10th May 2018 Orla Kelly of the Medical Negligence Team in Cantillons, speaks on the Matt Cooper Show and states people have lost trust in health system and calls for mandatory disclosure. Unfortunately this clip is no longer availaible

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Varadkar must act fast to remove women from ‘three-way battle’


Irish Times – Tuesday 15th May 2018 Read Orla Kelly of our Medical Negligence Department, recent comments on the latest from the Cervical Cancer fallout: click here to read article

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Significant Settlement negotiated for lady following a failure to diagnose a Pulmonary Embolism (PE) and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)


Orla Kelly and the Medical Negligence Team were instructed by a lady who suffered chest symptoms shortly after the birth of her third child.   She attended A&E and was discharged with a chest infection. For some reason they failed to consider the diagnosis of a Pulmonary Embolism (PE) and/or a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).  At […]

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Cantillons successful in claim for lady who suffered progression of a tumour following an incorrectly read MRI scan


The Medical Negligence Team including Lyndy Cantillon and Orla Kelly acted on behalf of a lady who attended for an MRI following development of suspicious symptoms.   The MRI was mistakenly reported as normal and the lady continued to suffer and deteriorate.  A year later a repeat MRI confirmed that the lady had a tumour.  Following […]

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Almost Half a Million Euro for Surgeon Error in Hip Replacement Procedure


Karen Bohane and Orla Kelly as part of the firm’s medical negligence team represented a gentleman who suffered damage following the insertion of a replacement hip. This was a case of surgical error whereby the technique used by the Surgeon was admitted to be of a negligent standard.  This led to significant damage to this […]

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Over Half a Million for Delayed Diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma


Orla Kelly and Karen Bohane were instructed by a gentleman regarding a delay in diagnosing his multiple myeloma.  Despite his vigilance in seeking medical assistance for his symptoms, unfortunately his multiple myeloma went undiagnosed due to negligence of his Consultant.   Ultimately the myeloma was diagnosed by a different Consultant and the appropriate life-saving treatment was […]

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Significant Settlement in Fatal Case resulting from a Misread MRI Scan


Cantillons were instructed by the family of a gentleman regarding medical negligence which led to his wrongful death.  The gentleman in question underwent an MRI Scan but unfortunately the MRI was wrongfully and incorrectly reported as normal.  In the years following the MRI this man continued to deteriorate until ultimately following a seizure it was […]

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Significant settlement for a Gentleman following Negligent Repair of an Incisional Hernia Defect.


Orla Kelly and the Medical Negligence Team acted on behalf of a gentleman who sustained significant injury following elective surgery to a repair an incisional hernia defect. Following the ill-advised surgery he developed severe complications including sepsis and organ failure. This resulted in a stay of almost three weeks in ITU followed by a further […]

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Significant Award for a Lady who suffered a bleed following a coronary angiogram


The Medical Negligence Team including Karen Bohane and Orla Kelly acted on behalf of a lady who suffered a retroperitoneal bleed following a standard coronary angiogram procedure. It was intended that this lady would be discharged the day after this routine diagnostic procedure.  However in the hours following the procedure this lady developed worrying signs […]

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Case settled for lady who suffered significant injuries following dental negligence


Orla Kelly and the Medical Negligence Team at Cantillons settled a case regarding dental negligence for a significant sum following settlement negotiations in September 2017. The lady’s Dental Practitioner performed surgery which was inappropriate for her.    As a result she sustained significant dental injuries and disruption to her life.  She continues to require treatment and […]

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Successful Outcome to Client’s Disciplinary Hearing before the Regulator of The Pharmacy Society of Ireland (‘PSI’)


Orla Kelly attended a meeting at the PSI offices in Dublin to support a Pharmacist called before a meeting of the Head of Registration of Qualification in order to discuss a matter which had come to their attention.  The purpose of the meeting was to decide whether a further formal complaint was required.  The matter […]

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Cases settled for victims of the DePuy ASR Recalled Hip Devices


Throughout 2016 and 2017 Karen Bohane and Orla Kelly have achieved a number of substantial settlements for the victims of the DePuy ASR Recalled Hip Devices.   A variety of substantial settlements were reached at various stages; some pre-trial, some following a part heard trial and in certain cases through an Alternative Dispute Resolution (‘ADR’) process. […]

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Case settled for lady who underwent negligent corrective breast surgery


Orla Kelly represented a lady who received sub-standard corrective breast surgery and as a result endured significant psychological distress and embarrassment which has a negative impact on her daily life.  The case was initially fought by the Defendants but ultimately it was possible to reach a settlement to the satisfaction of our client in advance […]

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