The widow of a bus driver who died some weeks after suffering injuries when he was crushed between two buses has secured €475,000 in settlement of High Court proceedings.
Mary Murray, of Huntstown Avenue, Dublin, took the action arising from the death of her husband Martin (50) nearly a month after the accident in November 2000. The settlement was made by Dublin Bus without admission of liability.
When told of the settlement today, Mr Justice Paul Butler said it was a "tragic case".
In her claim, Ms Murray said her husband was on November 20th 2000 allocated a bus which, she alleged, was not in proper mechanical working order. She claimed, while attempting to close the centre door of the bus, he was crushed between his vehicle and another bus parked immediately adjacent to it.
She alleged he suffered serious injuries which resulted in his death on December 21st, 2000.
It was claimed the incident was caused by the negligence and breach of duty of Dublin Bus by permitting Mr Murray to use the bus when they knew or ought to have known it would be dangerous and unsafe to do so.
It was also claimed the bus company permitted buses to be parked excessively close to each other when they knew or ought to have known this might result in a collision.
Dublin Bus denied the claims and claimed 25 per cent contributory negligence by Mr Murray in allegedly failing to apply the parking brake and to put his vehicle into neutral mode prior to getting up to close the door.