March 2, 2001 9:33: A YOUNG girl has been awarded £2.43 million compensation from Wycombe Hospital for brain damage she sustained while still in her mother's womb.

Eight-year-old Catherine Lesley Atherton, of Cookham, who celebrated her birthday on the day of the settlement, was born with a severe form of cerebral palsy in February 1993.

Her solicitor, Anne Winyard, claims the devastating injuries were sustained after she was stabbed in the head by an amniocentesis needle.

But despite making the payout, Buckinghamshire Health Authority has not admitted liability for the tragedy.

Catherine was just a 19-week-old foetus when her mother, Bridget Atherton, says she was stabbed in the head by a needle during an examination at Wycombe Hospital on September 23, 1992.

The head injuries have left her barely able to walk or communicate and parents Bridget and Tony will have to give her full care for the rest of her life.

Mr Justice Buckley approved the settlement at London's Royal Courts of Justice on Monday.

He told Catherine's parents Bridget and Tony Atherton: "It is a tragic case where something went seriously wrong.

"The consequences are tragic for Catherine and it is agreed that she will need a lot of help in her life.

"You are not alone. The court sees far too many of these tragic cases."

Although the health authority did not admit liability, Mr Paul Rees QC, for the authority, said: "No amount of fine words can turn back the clock, but I can provide Mr and Mrs Atherton with my personal apology for what went wrong in 1992. They deserve to hear that."

He paid tribute to the care Catherine's parents had given her, saying the progress she had made was due in "no small measure to the unstinting devotion of her parents".

Speaking on behalf of the family after the hearing, Ms Winyard said it would have made a "huge difference" to Catherine's parents if the health authority had accepted a mistake was made earlier.

She added: "They are relieved the litigation is finally over and they simply want to look forward.

"They naturally wish that the terrible mistake had been acknowledged by the authority early on in the proceedings."

She said that the settlement figure was reached after calculating the level of care Catherine would need for the rest of her life.