€35,000 award for drowning tragedy

A CIRCUIT court judge has approved the payment of €35,000 in compensation to a Co Clare family arising from a tragedy three years ago that cost the lives of three men in the sea off Doolin.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Rory McCabe approved the payment to John-Joseph Griffin (60) Shanaway Road, Ennis, and five other family members arising from the death of their son and brother, Martin Griffin (24), Trá Lathan, Doolin, in October 2005.

He was one of three friends who died after a night out in Doolin on the bank holiday Sunday.The others were Joe O’Callaghan (34), Tulla, and Michael Doran (31), Kilseally, Broadford, Co Clare. They died after Mr O’Callaghan’s Suzuki Vitara four-wheel drive plunged 21.3m (70ft) into the sea.

Their disappearance sparked a massive search by the Doolin Coast Guard unit, volunteers and the Irish Coast Guard helicopter. Mr O’Callaghan’s body was the last to be recovered from the sea 11 days after the three were last seen.

In proceedings authorised by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board and brought under the Civil Liability Act before Ennis Circuit Court by John Joe Griffin, against the personal representative of the late Mr O’Callaghan, legal papers state that Mr O’Callaghan drove the vehicle when he was incapable of driving in a responsible manner.

Papers lodged to court said the vehicle was driven to a particularly dangerous location, a dirt road running along the top of a cliffs at Doolin, where, as a result in the inadequacies in the driving, management or control of the vehicle, it was caused to fall over the cliff.

The proceedings were also brought against personal representative of the vehicle’s owner, Mr O’Callaghan’s father Seán, who has since died.

In court, barrister Pat Whyms said €35,000, which includes special damages, had been agreed between the two sides. Judge McCabe approved the payment and said it should be divided between Mr Griffin, his two daughters, two sons and Martin’s grandmother.