The PHA said the case is not linked to the ongoing meningitis outbreak in England, which has claimed the lives of two young people.

Mr Gloster said that he  was very conscious that every time the case was spoken of that there was a family involved who were coping with what had been “the worst possible outcome.”

The girl suffered brain damage, has cerebral palsy, and has to use a wheelchair, it was claimed before the High Court

The girl settled her High Court action against the HSE with an interim payout of €1.7 million.

The Department of Public Health West and North West is responding to two cases of confirmed infection and one probable case of infection of meningococcal disease in the West.