Man awarded €25k after being hit by strimmer

A 37-year-old man who suffered headaches and was left with a fear of hedge strimmers after being injured on a Community Employment work placement scheme has been awarded €25,000 in an action against the South Kerry Development Partnership (SKDP).

Bartholomew O’Callaghan, of Lemannaguilla, Kilcummin, Killarney, had been using a pike to clear briars with a colleague at Deer-park, Killarney, in February 2012. He had been working under a scheme run under the aegis of the SKDP.

His colleague was using a strimmer nearby when a steel blade broke off and flew through the air, striking Mr O’Callaghan on the head.