Woman left with catastrophic injuries after crash gets €10m

A 28-year-old woman who was catastrophically injured when the car in which she was a passenger crashed at high speed has settled her High Court action for €10m.

Lydia Branley, of Largydonnell, Kinlough, Co Leitrim, had to be cut from the wreckage after the high powered BMW ended up in a stream when the driver lost control at 150km/h as he turned off a main road on to a slip road in Sligo four years ago.

The car skidded for 114 metres, tumbled over two barriers before hitting a pole leaving Ms Branley who was a front seat passenger trapped inside.

Ms Branley, who had been wearing her seat belt, was in a coma for nine months after the accident and woke up with no movement in her body.

Two years ago Martin Kearney, aged 31, of Faranoo, Ballina, Co Mayo, was sentenced to six years with two years suspended for dangerous driving in relation to the accident at Drumiskabole, outside Sligo town, on September 30, 2010.

Ms Branley in the High Court had sued through her father Martin Branley the driver of the car, Martin Kearney, and the owner of the car, Michael Kearney, both of Faranoo, Ballina, Co Mayo.

The case was before the court for assessment of damages only.

An aeronautical engineer, she had 18 months prior to the accident helped guide US president Barack Obama’s Air Force One through Irish airspace on his first flight to Europe as US president.

“It does not give back Lydia her life. Nothing will, but it will provide her with the best care and hopefully bring back a degree of normality into your lives,” Ms Justice Mary Irvine said after she approved the settlement.

In a statement afterwards the family said they were happy to see the case concluded.

“While money can never recompense Lydia for the devastating injuries she received, it will at least give some measure of comfort towards her future care,” they said through their solicitor, Kieran Ryan.

Eoin McGonigal SC told the court Ms Branley suffered catastrophic injury including brain, spinal and chest injuries in the accident and will have to be looked after for the rest of her life.