Damages for golfer who had club stuck in head after crash

Three Irish golfers who were injured when the taxi they shared crashed into a ravine while they were holidaying in Spain, are to share more than €50,000 damages for personal injuries.

Mr Justice Raymond Groarke heard in the Circuit Civil Court that one of the golfers, John Moroney, (53) of Drumin, Dunleer, Co Louth, had the shaft of a golf club embedded in the back of his head.

The judge, applying compensation levels governed by Spanish law in road traffic accident cases, awarded him €20,700.

He also awarded Mark Lawless (55) of Glebe House, Clostown, Togher, Co Louth €16,500 and Michael Lynch, (59) Johnstown, Dunany, Togher, €15,660.

Barrister Shane English, for the three men, had told the court that shortly after the men left La Manga Golf Club on the Costa del Sol in September 2010, the taxi went out of control, somersaulting into a 7m-deep ravine.

He said the golfers were knocked unconscious in the crash, with Mr Moroney not regaining consciousness until after surgery to remove the club.

Mr English told the court the Spanish taxi driver had taken off very quickly from the golf club and drove at an alarming speed until he hit a crash barrier as he tried to overtake another car in the middle of the road.

Mr Moroney said the driver had taken off before the men had time to put their seat belts on.

Judge Groarke said Mr Moroney sustained the most severe injuries; Mr Lawless had suffered what his doctor described as “significant soft tissue injury” and Mr Lynch had been injured both physically and psychologically and continued to suffer problems.