Courts / Limerick / Report

Johnson & Johnson secure €58k reduction in near €1m payout to former Limerick hurler

Date
2026-06-23

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Limerick

Summary

Pharma giant Johnson & Johnson has secured a €58,000 reduction in a High Court award of nearly €1 million made to former Limerick hurler Mark Keane, who was injured in 2018 while freeing a work colleague trapped in a machine at their plant in Co Limerick. The High Court awarded Keane €944,000 for injuries to his right hand, arm, and shoulder. Keane, an accomplished hurler, claimed he was 'let down' by the company. Johnson & Johnson accepted responsibility for the nerve damage and injury to his right hand but not for the injury to his right shoulder. The Court of Appeal reduced the payout to €886,000, citing a previous award for a 2014 road traffic incident and adjustments in Keane's expected future earnings. Johnson & Johnson argued that any loss of earnings was partially due to the 2014 accident, leading to a double counting. Keane alleged Johnson & Johnson was negligent and breached their duty of care on September 10, 2018, while he was working as a technician making contact lenses.