Case adjourned as ESB worker suffers asthma attack in witness box

An action brought by an ESB worker attacked by a stag during the course of his work was adjourned at the High Court after he suffered an asthma attack while being cross-examined.

The court adjourned after John Corcoran (63) began coughing and needed to use his inhaler while in the witness box. After two hours his counsel, Edward Walsh SC, told Mr Justice Paul Coffey his client had suffered an asthma attack and was not in a position to give further evidence.

Mr Justice Coffey adjourned the case to Thursday morning.

Mr Corcoran, an engineering officer with the ESB, was on his way to check a mast six years ago when a stag attacked him on a forestry path at Kilduff Mountain in Co Tipperary.

While under cross-examination on Wednesday Mr Corcoran agreed he previously received €67,000 in compensation when he suffered an injury to his left hand and shoulder.

He also agreed that he received €26,000 compensation in 2010 following a road traffic accident.

Mr Corcoran agreed proceedings were also brought in 2018 against the ESB in relation to alleged exposure to asbestos two years previously.

Cross-examined by Kieran Fleck SC, for the ESB, Mr Corcoran said the stag took away his ability to carry out a day’s work.

Mr Corcoran, of Fawnlough, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, has sued ESB Networks Designated Activity Company with a registered address at Clanwilliam House, Clanwilliam Place, Dublin, and the Electricity Supply Board, with a registered address at East Wall, Dublin over the incident on September 12th, 2016.

Mr Justice Paul Coffey was told that liability has been admitted in the case which is before the case court for the assessment of damages only.

Among the claims was that Mr Corcoran had been permitted to work alone in a mountain area during the deer mating season when it ought to reasonably have been known that it was dangerous and unsafe to do so.

Mr Corcoran said he started to run but he said the stag hit him with force, his antlers creating eight puncture wounds on his rucksack and wounding him in the shoulder

Mr Corcoran said the stag propelled him through the air and continued to attack him. He said he lost consciousness for an estimated ten to twelve minutes but later managed to reach his phone and summons help.