€120k compo for rising hurling star who broke leg

A Waterford teenager whose femur was fractured nine years ago in a car crash has not only recovered but has been selected to represent Waterford in hurling at underage level.

Luke O’Rourke of Monafadee, Lismore, Co Waterford, was awarded €120,000 in compensation at the High Court sitting in Cork yesterday.

John O’Mahony, counsel for the plaintiff, said the youngster was a rising star of Waterford hurling.

Mr Justice Kevin Cross replied: “He will be a danger to Cork. I don’t think he should be compensated for that.”

Luke, who is now 15 and just after completing his Junior Certificate, was travelling as a passenger in a car on August 26, 2007, at Tallow Bridge, Tallow, Co Waterford, when a 4x4 driven by Kevin Leahy, of River Lane, Sunday’s Well, Cork, was in a collision with the car.

Luke O’Rourke was six years old at the time and suffered the fracture to his left leg. He was hospitalised for two months and was out of school for an even longer period.

Mr O’Mahony said it was a relatively straightforward case where the defendant’s insurers had offered €120,000 in settlement of the action — €40,000 for special damages and €80,000 to be lodged in court until the plaintiff reaches the age of 18.

Mr Justice Cross said it was good to hear that the plaintiff was doing well at school and in sport, adding that sport was as important as school, if not more so, to young people.

“I think it is a very good settlement. You have made a very good recovery from a very nasty injury. You were young at the time and young bones heal,” said Mr Justice Cross.

The young plaintiff brought the case through his father, Anthony O’Rourke, who was present with him in court for the case.