Family of dead motorcyclist awarded €350,000

The widow and children of a man who was killed in a motorcycle three years ago have been awarded €350,000 in damages by the High…

The widow and children of a man who was killed in a motorcycle three years ago have been awarded €350,000 in damages by the High Court.

Mrs Evelyn Godfrey (44), of Ballinagarda, Ballyneety, Co Limerick, widow of Charles Godfrey brought the action on her own behalf and their five children.

Mr Godfrey was driving his Harley Davidson motor cycle from Dublin to Limerick on July 8th, 2001, when it was in collision with a car at Ballinakill, Roscrea. Major roadworks were being carried out at the time.

The action was against Coffey Construction Ltd, with registered office at Arthur's Quay, Limerick; Mr Stíofán O Flannabhra, Rathnaleen, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, the driver of the car; and North Tipperary Co Council.

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The court heard Coffey Construction Ltd were carrying out the roadworks on behalf of North Tipperary County Council.

The defendants' denied negligence and submitted that there negligence on the part of the late Mr Godfrey.

Mr Marcus F Daly, for Mrs Godfrey, said the accident occurred on a bright Sunday afternoon. There was nothing to suggest the deceased had done anything wrong.

A variety of cones had been erected for traffic management. It was claimed that at the roadworks there had been a failure to properly indicate the direction in which persons should travel on the roadway.

It was also claimed there was a failure to indicate to persons as they travelled towards Dublin to move into their left.