€300,000 award for elderly man struck by bus

AN ELDERLY man who suffered severe brain injuries and is now effectively blind as a result of being struck by a bus while crossing a busy road in Cork city has secured €300,000 in settlement of High Court proceedings.

An application will be made later to have Thomas Neville made a ward of court.

Mr Justice John Quirke was told liability was a “huge issue” in the case by Mr Neville against Bus Eireann as some witnesses had alleged he was not paying attention while quickly crossing the road and had also said the bus was not being driven at speed.

While the €300,000 was estimated at just 15% of the value of the case given that Mr Neville will require 24-hour care for the rest of his life, the judge said he believed the settlement was a very good one and the best that could have been achieved given the circumstances.

The defendant was entitled to some recognition for its attitude, he added.

He also expressed sympathy about the “very tragic” accident to two daughters of Mr Neville who were in court.

Mr Neville, 73, French’s Avenue, Cobh, had sued Bus Eireann over the accident which occurred directly outside Kent Railway Station in Cork about 4pm on Friday, October 14, 2005.

Miriam O’Riordan SC, for Mr Neville, said her client was aged 68 at the time and was retired from work for many years as a result of an industrial accident.