A 27-year-old man who was left paralysed following scoliosis surgery at the Blackrock Clinic in Dublin has begun a High Court action for damages.

Richard O'Callaghan who is from Togher in Cork defied medical odds to recover from the paralysis which it is alleged occurred due to the negligence of his orthopedic surgeon.

He was paralysed following the spinal surgery at the Blackrock Clinic in December 2005.

His lawyers told the Court that surgeon Frank Dowling, with an address at suite 29 at the Blackrock Clinic, inserted screws into the spine 'freehand' without spinal cord monitoring.

In the days following the operation the condition of the then 19-year-old deteriorated and he was left with paraplegia. Lawyers say the surgeon went on holidays after the operation and when phoned and asked about his patient's extreme chest pain he said it was a panic attack.

Against all the odds the Court was told Mr. O'Callaghan regained the ability to walk and is now suing for damages.

Frank Dowling denies negligence and will argue the surgery was performed with due professionalism and diligence.