The High Court has assessed €130,000 in general damages for Vera Lynch after finding that she suffers severe, lifelong post-traumatic stress disorder arising from the death of her son Stephen Lynch at Brookwood Close in Tallaght.
Stephen Lynch, aged 31, died on April 13, 2017 after being struck by a Ford Focus at about 7pm. His mother arrived at the scene around ten minutes later and saw blood coming from the back of his head before emergency personnel moved her away. She later identified his body at a mortuary.
Forensic collision evidence indicated that Stephen had been standing in the vehicle's path, was knocked down at low speed and was then overrun and dragged for at least 15 to 16 metres. An inquest delayed by the criminal investigation returned a verdict of unlawful killing in October 2024.
The court accepted consultant psychiatrist Dr Martin Mahon's evidence that Lynch developed PTSD separate from ordinary grief. Mr Justice Tony O'Connor found that the condition had improved somewhat but would leave lifelong symptoms. He assessed €85,000 for pain and suffering to date and €45,000 for the future.
A separate issue concerned who was driving and which insurer had to respond to the award. Dean Reynolds had obtained temporary AXA cover for the car on the afternoon of the incident. His brother Otis Reynolds was the registered owner.
Both men had earlier had judgment entered against them by default and declined at trial to answer most questions concerning the incident. The court also considered evidence that Dean Reynolds had driven the car eight days earlier, that his DNA was found on a mobile phone recovered near the scene, and that the same phone had been used to arrange the temporary insurance and shortly before the collision.
On the balance of probabilities, the court found Dean Reynolds was driving. It rejected Lynch's claim for aggravated damages against AXA. The precise final orders, including costs, were left for a further hearing.