A boy who secured €3.081 million damages at the High Court yesterday after sustaining severe head injuries in a horrific road accident in which his older sister died has won a gold medal in the Special Olympics and hopes to win another tomorrow.
Bryan Doran, then aged five, was walking with his family near their home at Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal, on August 10th, 1998, when the group was struck by a rear wheel which became detached from a passing lorry. Bryan was severely injured.
His 15-year-old sister, Denise, was pronounced dead at the scene.
When ruling an award of €3.08 million in settlement of Bryan's legal action yesterday, Mr Justice O'Donovan hailed him as "a great guy" who had made a "fantastic" achievement in the Special Olympics.
He wished him the best of luck when he competes in the 25-metre sprint tomorrow.
Bryan, who was wearing an Irish tracksuit, has already won a gold medal in softball, which he proudly showed to the judge.
Mr Justice O'Donovan described the case as "a very sad one in so many respects" but said Bryan, while he did not have too much else to be grateful for, was very fortunate in his caring parents, Noreen and Peter.
He also sanctioned a €10,000 payout to meet the cost of a holiday for the Doran family. He had Disneyland in mind after Bryan completed the Special Olympics and secured a "bagful of medals", the judge added with a smile.
The settlement was ruled on the application of Mr Edward Walsh SC, with Mr Joe McGettigan SC, for Bryan, instructed by O'Gorman, Cunningham and Company, solicitors, of Letterkenny.
In his High Court action, brought through his father, Bryan, of Colehill, Newtowncunningham, claimed two rear wheels became detached from a Mercedes truck, which was carrying a load of cement blocks.
The vehicle was passing Bryan and his family as they were walking near Newtowncunningham on the afternoon of August 10th, 1998.
It was claimed that a wheel struck the children, and Bryan sustained severe head injuries while his sister, Denise, died.
Bryan was rushed unconscious to Letterkenny General Hospital from where he was transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. He was discharged home in a wheelchair on September 30th, 1998. He will require continuing care for the rest of his life.
