Facebook use sees man lose injury claim

A 25-year-old general operative has lost a €60,000 damages claim for personal injury in the Circuit Civil Court and was left facing a hefty legal bill after he was ‘betrayed’ by his Facebook page.

Jason Shelly had claimed that in April 2014, he had been a passenger in a car which collided with a vehicle driven by John Costello.

He had alleged he still suffered intermittent lower back pain a year after the accident.

The court heard that Mr Shelly, of Abbey Park Grove, Clane, Co Kildare, attended the emergency department of the Mater Hospital in Dublin, two days after the accident, complaining of lower back pain, headaches, dizziness and difficulty sleeping.

Barrister Shane English, for defendant John Costello, of Forest Gate, Woodbrook, Portalington, Co Laois, told the court that Mr Shelly had commented on his own Facebook page between May and December 2014 about his cycling performances.

Mr English yesterday told Judge Jacqueline Linnane during Shelly’s cross examination that the comments, which have since been deleted, referred in particular to cycling races.

The court heard that on one occasion, Mr Shelly commented about having cycled for more than four hours.

Following Mr Shelly’s evidence, Mr English, who appeared with Robert Ó Geibheannaigh Bl and Cullen & O’Beirne solicitors, made an application to the court to dismiss the claim.

Judge Linnane threw out Mr Shelly’s claim and awarded costs against him.