The High Court has approved £750,000 damages for a man who sustained a fractured skull following a road traffic accident when he was 15 years old.
Mr Justice Kearns yesterday ruled settlement in the amount of £750,000 damages in favour of Mr Eoin Behan, now aged 24, of Booleigh Cross, Nurney, Co Kildare.
Mr Behan had sued Mr Thomas O'Brien snr, his son Mr Thomas O'Brien jnr, both of Lougharbor, Athy, Co Kildare, and Mr Michael Nolan, of Maddenstown, Curragh, Co Kildare, arising out of a collision on February 19th, 1991, between two vehicles, a car which was the property of Mr O'Brien snr and driven by his son, Thomas, and a tractor driven by Mr Nolan at or near Blackwood, Athy.
Mr Behan was a rear-seat passenger in the vehicle driven by Mr O'Brien jnr. The case came before Mr Justice Kearns yesterday as an assessment of damages only.
After negotiations between the sides, Mr Murray McGrath SC, with Mr Padraig McCartan SC, for Mr Behan, said they were recommending a sum of £750,000 after taking into account several factors in the case. He said Mr Behan had suffered a brain fracture and frontal lobe damage as a result of the accident.
Mr Justice Kearns said he would rule damages in the amount of £750,000. He directed a payout of £50,000 for expenses incurred by Mr Behan's parents to date and £10,166 for medical expenses to date.
An application to have Mr Behan made a ward of court will be made later.