A horse-breeder has told the High Court of finding a field ablaze with valuable horses "gone mad" after an electricity power cable fell on the land.
Shortly after his case opened yesterday, Mr Derek Weld (59), formerly of Ballynattin House, Arklow, Co Wicklow, settled his claim against the ESB for the death of four foals for undisclosed damages and costs.
Mr Weld said he was watching television on August 12th, 1996, when it blacked out. In one of his fields he saw flames leaping 30 ft and thick smoke. He rang the fire brigade and gardai after failing to get the ESB.
There were four mares in foal in the field and these foals were lost. A filly foal and another mare broke through a fence and were injured. He said the animals had "gone mad". Sparks were flying around the field and a hedge was burned down.
The action had also been taken by Mr Stuart Weld, the stud manager. Mr Liam Reidy SC, for Mr Weld, said the live cable had "crystallised" soil into solid lumps on a strip of land 420 ft by 1 ft to a depth of 6 ft.