An 87-year-old retired Co Limerick doctor and racehorse owner who claims he was left in agony after falling while attempting to avoid a startled horse, has sued the National Stud for damages.
Dr John (Jack) Ryan, Tara, Ennis Road, has brought his High Court action against the Irish National Stud Company Ltd, Kildare, arising out of the alleged incident on February 11th, 2000. The defence denies the claims.
Dr Ryan claims that he took one of his mares to the National Stud to have her covered by a sire. He claims a groom working for the stud took the horse and brought her towards a stable, with Dr Ryan following behind.
Without warning, the groom handling the nine-year-old mare caused her to walk over a steel manhole cover in the yard, it is claimed. The mare, it is alleged, became excited and reversed towards Dr Ryan, causing him to take evasive action and fall to the ground, thereby suffering injury loss and damage.
Dr Ryan says the stud failed to provide a suitable yard for the handling of mares and caused the horse to become excited and frightened by leading it over the manhole cover.
After the incident Dr Ryan, who owns a number of racehorses, was taken to hospital where X-rays revealed that he had suffered a fracture at the top of his right leg. Surgery was required and he was unable to put any weight on his right leg for four months.
Dr John Ryan (jnr), son of the plaintiff, told his father's counsel, Michael Howard SC, that his father had a good quality of life and was extremely active before the accident.