A former boy band singer is to receive £3 million compensation for catastrophic injuries he suffered in a tragic road accident, it was revealed today.
Lawyers for Owen Griffin (26) agreed one of the biggest settlements of its kind in Northern Ireland ahead of a claim for damages which was due to open at the High Court in Belfast.
Mr Griffin, from Waterford, brought the personal injury case over a car crash which also claimed two lives.
He was asleep in the back of a vehicle which collided head-on with a motorcycle in Scotland in March 2004. A man riding the bike and the five-year-old son of car driver Malcolm Hayes were both killed in the accident.
Mr Griffin suffered severe brain and physical injuries, and was left in a coma for weeks.
At the time of the accident he had overcome a troubled background to win the final of a Stars in Your Eyes talent contest in Killarney, Co Kerry in 2002. Spurred on by that success, he went on to front fledgling Co Fermanagh-based boy band, Idolize, who toured successfully and were due to support top acts Westlife and Girls Aloud.
But any hopes of career in the music business ended with the crash on the A77 Glasgow to Stranraer as he and the other band members travelled back to Northern Ireland.
He has no memory of the accident, and still struggles with the physical and psychological impact of his injuries.
In February 2007 he was admitted to an assisted living scheme in Waterford now known as Acquired Brain Injury Ireland. There he shares a house with three other men who all require care and assistance in daily living.
Although he has responded well, and continues to paint and write poetry, he can no longer sing due to the affects of tracheotomy on his voice.
Mr Griffin is never expected to return to full-time work, with little evidence that his position will improve. According to a nursing care consultant he will need supervision with specially-trained carers if he ever had to leave the scheme.
Family and friends have continued to help look after him, including an elderly couple who became his guardians following the death of his mother from cancer when he was three years old.
Details emerged after an out-of-court settlement was reached in the claim brought against Malcolm Hayes as the driver of the car in which he was a seat-belted passenger.
A resolution was reached as the ex-singer's senior counsel Mark Horner QC, instructed by Stephen Andress of Agnew Andress Higgins Solicitors, was due to open the case this week. Medical and care experts, along with an accountant, were all set to give evidence during a five-day hearing.
Liability was not disputed in the action, which was brought in Northern Ireland because Mr Hayes is from Omagh, Co Tyrone. The figure to be paid out was agreed with insurers for the defendant.
Following the outcome Mr Andress stressed that the money would be held at the court in Belfast.
He said: "This is a tragic case of a very talented young man. The compensation reflects the severity of the injuries and Owen's future needs for health care and support.
"Mr Justice McLaughlin directed that the compensation be paid into the High Court in Nothern Ireland so that the court can supervise his care.
"Fortunately Owen has always had the love and support from his guardian parents, his sister and brother."