A well known entertainer who suffered severe injuries in an accident in December 1992 opened his case for "enormous damages" in the High Court in Cork yesterday.
Mr Tony Murphy, better known by his stage name of Tony Stevens, from Glencoo Gardens, Ballinlough, Cork, is suing the driver of a van, Mr Frank O'Driscoll, of Monaknappa, Blarney, Co Cork, after the van crashed at Milltown, Co Galway, when Mr Murphy was travelling home from an engagement. While liability is not an issue, the defence is claiming contributory negligence, saying Mr Murphy was not wearing a seat belt.
Mr Henry Hickey SC, opening the case, said Mr Murphy (46) was well known in showbusiness. His career was really taking off at the time of the accident.
He was a popular singer who performed both pop and country and western. He accepted he would never perform again because of his injuries.
Mr Murphy, hospitalised over Christmas in University Hospital, Galway, and transferred to Cork University Hospital in January 1993, had life threatening injuries and suffered multiple fractures of his ribs, pelvis and legs. He spent over 250 days in and out of hospital, said Mr Hickey.
Mr Murphy became very depressed. A psychiatrist found he was suffering from severe post traumatic stress for which he has to take a cocktail of medication which affects his concentration. He is significantly disabled, has extensive scarring and "has problems of a private nature which are a major burden for him". He will require hip and knee replacement operations in 10 to 20 years.
Mr Murphy told the court he left school at 13 after two days in secondary school - he was told by the Christian Brother he would be better off getting a job. He finished an apprenticeship as a panel beater and became a welder. He worked at the Ford car plant until 1980 and while there he did stints as a singer and musician at gigs in Cork and Munster.
He decided to quit his job and sing full time. He was very successful, making many television appearances, including one on The Late Late Show. He had his own one hour television special from the Opera House in Cork.
Mr Murphy said he had represented Ireland at many international song contests. He was very successful. One of his records made the British charts and he had an album released called For All the Girls I've Loved Before. At the time of the accident, he had changed his manager and the advance bookings for 1993 were excellent.
Mr Hickey said Mr Murphy's loss of earnings and horrendous injuries warranted massive general damages. They would be calling many well known music industry people to tell of the losses incurred.
"He lives with pain every bay and he has also suffered a serious loss of confidence. No money can compensate him for what he has gone through or for what he is going to go through," said Mr Hickey.
The trial continues today.