The family of a young man left almost totally paralysed following a road incident, but who is able to communicate through eye movements and thumb gestures, wants to care for him in a special unit at his home, the High Court heard yesterday
.Shane Cooney (21) lives in Virginia Health Centre in Cavan where he receives around-the-clock care because he suffers from a catastrophic brain injury, also called locked-in syndrome, Hugh Mohan SC said.
The syndrome was made famous by the book and film The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, a true story of a man who lived with an almost totally paralysed body but who communicated through his left eye, Mr Mohan said.
Suing through his father, Shane sued over an incident in January 2007 at New Inns, Ballyjamesduff.
He was a front-seat passenger in a car driven by his brother Damien (18), who had to take evasive action as he came upon a car driven by Maureen Cusack of Straugh, New Inns, stopped in a dip in the road, it was claimed. The car hit a tree and Damien was fatally injured and pronounced dead in hospital.