Man left with brain damage after accident receives €2m

A PEDESTRIAN who suffered permanent brain damage when he was hit by a car has settled his court case against the driver for €2million.

Kieran Houlihan was 16 when a car driven by pensioner Mary Ryan mounted a footpath and hit him in 2012, the High Court heard.

He was taken to hospital where surgery was carried out to relieve pressure on his brain. He regained consciousness but was left with a weakness of his right arm and leg, epilepsy, reduced concentration levels, memory difficulties and an inability to manage his financial affairs.

Mr Houlihan, now 22, required supervision and help with taking his medication for his epilepsy and was not able to enter the workplace, the High Court was told.

Ms Ryan, who was in her 70s, had afterwards said she had a blackout when she mounted a footpath and hit the pedestrian in her home town of Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. She has since died.

Patrick Treacy SC, for Mr Houlihan, said: ‘She was driving and her car hit off the pavement two times, leaving scuff marks, before she went up on to the pavement on the third time.’

‘The defendant subsequently made a voluntary statement nine months later in which she told her solicitor she had had a complete blackout.’

Mr Houlihan was struck from the front by Ms Ryan’s car and fell backwards, striking his head on the left hand side, leaving him unconscious.

After an adjournment yesterday, Mr Treacy told Judge Kevin Cross the case had been settled for €2million from Ms Ryan’s insurers.

Mother Beverly Houlihan said she was content with the settlement.