A Co Galway man who sustained brain damage in a road accident has been awarded £1.375 million in the High Court. Ruling on the settlement yesterday, Mr Justice Quirke expressed his sympathy for the family of Mr Kevin Hardiman (35), single, of Aille Cross, Loughrea, and noted that they were not seeking compensation for themselves.
Mr Hardiman was a backseat passenger in a hired car involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle at Coose, Whitegate, Co Clare, on September 4th, 1995. He remains severely brain damaged and will require 24 hour care into the future.
The court was told there were six people in the hired car, Mr Hardiman was not wearing a seat belt and the driver of the hired car was intoxicated.
In court yesterday, Mr Conor Maguire SC, with Mr Henry Bourke SC, and Mr Francis Comerford, told the judge the case had been settled and asked the judge to rule judgment for £1.375 million and costs. Mr Ronnie Robbins SC, for the defence, said he was consenting to judgment in that amount against Atlas Car Hire, with an address care of Dublin Airport, owner of the hired car, and the representative of the estate of the late Mr Raymond Coy, who was driving the hired car.