A man who was seriously injured when a motorist who had taken drink and drugs ploughed into cyclists taking part in a cross-Border maracyle was awarded £1.2 million compensation in the High Court in Belfast yesterday.
Mr Vincent Ward (32), Bannonstown Road, Castlewellan, Co Down, was returning from Dublin to Belfast in the Co-operation North event in June 1998 when the crash happened outside Newry.
Two other cyclists, Mr Michael McElroy (28), also from Castlewellan, and Mr Mark Wilson (22), from nearby Dundrum, were killed and four others were injured.
Mr Ward, who was a self-employed builder, suffered a serious head injury and multiple fractures. Court papers said he was not expected to work again.
The out-of-court settlement was awarded against the car-driver, John McCann (23), from Lower Foughill Road, Jonesborough, Co Armagh, who was later jailed for six years after he admitted causing death and injury by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drink and drugs.