€425k settlement over father’s death

A FATHER of four was killed on his way to work four years ago and yesterday at the High Court in Cork his family was awarded €425,000 in compensation.

Kathleen McAuliffe of Castlecourt, Demesne, Newmarket, Co Cork, who brought the action to the High Court in Cork, said: “No amount of money could bring James back.”

James McAuliffe, 39, who was on his way to work, was a rear seat passenger in a car driven by the late Gerard O’Keefe, 25, who was also killed in the accident.

Barrister James Duggan recalled the date of the accident for Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne at the High Court in Cork yesterday.

“It appears that he (James McAuliffe) got a lift at 7am to go to work with (Gerard O’Keefe) who worked with him. The driver attempted to pass out a car and he was involved in a head-on collision. The driver was also killed in the crash. The front seat passenger actually survived.

“One of the matters of some significance is that the deceased was not wearing a seatbelt and he was found 60ft across (from the point of impact).”

The settlement offer in the case was €425,000 which Ms Justice Dunne approved after asking Mr Duggan for his assessment of the potential loss as a result of the seatbelt issue if the case had gone to hearing.

The judge noted the generous approach taken by the deceased’s parental family who had all waived any entitlement in favour of the late Mr McAuliffe’s wife and four children.