Courts / Meath / Report

Car passenger who suffered serious brain injuries settles action for €4.65m

Date
2017-11-16

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Navan

County
Meath

Summary

A 32‑year‑old man, Dane Craigie, sustained serious brain injuries when the car he was a passenger in skidded off the road and struck a tree on 17 September 2008 at Bellinter, Navan. The incident occurred on a public road where construction and excavation works were underway. Craigie was taken to Navan Hospital and later to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, where several surgeries were performed to relieve pressure on his brain. He spent an extended period in intensive care and now lives in a nursing home requiring ongoing care. Craigie sued several parties, including Meath County Council, SIAC Cintra Ferrovial (M3 Motorway Joint Venture), the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland, Linda Farrell, vehicle owner Kelly Mathews, and Ray Smyth, alleging negligence, nuisance and breach of duty of care. All defendants denied negligence and argued Craigie contributed to his injury by not wearing a seat belt.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Car passenger who suffered serious brain injuries settles action for €4.65m. Procedural stage: trial

When:

September 17th, 2008 Incident
2017-11-16 Publication

Why: As part of the defence, it had been argued that Mr Craigie contributed to his own misfortune, and had exposed himself to risk and injury because he had not been wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. Defence account reported by CNI