A MECHANIC with the National Car Testing Service has sued for damages over neck and back injuries suffered when the bonnet of a car fell on him while he was testing the vehicle.
Charles Coogan (29), Brackenwood Drive, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, has brought his High Court action against NCT Service Limited and the owner of the car, Dermot Delaney, Riverwood Place, Castleknock, Dublin 15. The defendants deny his claims.
In evidence yesterday, Mr Coogan said he was testing Mr Delaney’s car on June 17th, 2008, at the NCT test centre at Ballymun, Dublin, when the bonnet collapsed on him.
Mr Coogan said it was common at the centre to use broom handles and mops to keep car bonnets upright in vehicles where the struts were not fit for use.
He produced photographs of vehicles with defective struts and also said that, after the incident, he bought a bonnet support from Motorfactors for just under €10 and informed his employers of this.
Inspection of bonnet struts did not form part of the NCT test, the court was also told.
Mr Coogan said he suffered neck and back injuries as a result of the incident. He was initially out of work for about five weeks but when the headaches and back pain continued he had to take about three months off work in total, he said.
He remained on painkillers, his personality had changed and he was constantly in pain, with only a slight improvement, he said.
Cross-examined by Liam Reidy SC, for NCTS, Mr Coogan said he came in contact with defective struts about twice a week at least. At the time of the incident, he had been under the bonnet for about three minutes when it suddenly collapsed on him. After that happened, he had lifted the bonnet off himself and put a stick under it.
He denied he might have struck the strut while working under the bonnet, causing the bonnet to fall.
Cross-examined by Finbar Fox SC, for Mr Delaney, Mr Coogan reiterated his claim that Mr Delaney had told him after the incident the bonnet had collapsed previously. Mr Fox said his client rejected that allegation.
Mr Fox said Mr Delaney was a school principal who had bought his car new in 2004. He had it serviced regularly, the vehicle was serviced just prior to the NCT test.
The hearing before Mr Justice John Quirke continues today.