Meath man sues US singer Akon after RDS collision

US singer Akon is being sued by a man over injuries alleged suffered when the rapper jumped off stage and collided into to him.

The action is being brought by Jason Harkin (aged 20) who claims he suffered injuries to his nose and face at a concert given by the renowned R&B performer at the RDS in Dublin on January 27, 2009.

Mr Harkin's action seeking damages is against Akon (real name Aliaune Thiam), music event management firm Grooveyard Ltd of Moycullen Business Park, Moycullen Co Galway who organised the concert and Sword Risk Services Ltd trading as Sword Event Guard, The Halls, Quay Street, Galway who it is claimed provided security at the performance.

Mr Harkin of Milltown Estate, Ashbourne, Co Meath alleges that the defendants were negligent and in breach of their duty towards him.

Today when the matter was mentioned before the High Court, Mr Justice Sean Ryan granted lawyers acting for Mr Harkin an order allowing them to serve notice of the proceedings to Akon through his management company American Talent Agency Inc in New York.

In his action Mr Harkin claims that at the concert Akon, who has collaborated with other singers including Lady Gaga, collided with him after jumping into the crowd when it was unsafe to do so, and engaged in behaviour which he ought to have known would cause injury to Mr Harkin.

He also claims the two Galway-based firms allowed the Grammy nominated singer to repeatedly jump into the crowd, which resulted in Mr Harkin's injuries, when it was unsafe and dangerous to do so and failed to have medical services in place on the night of the event.

He further claims the two firms failed to take steps to ensure that he and embers of the audience were safe and free from risk at the concert, failed to necessary security procedures in place so that the performer could not jump into the crowd and failed to stop Akon from jumping into the crowd.