Man sues mart and employer over crushing by ‘mad heifer’

A MAN who suffered life-changing injuries after he was attacked by a cow heard people cry ‘mad heifer on the loose’ moments before he was crushed.

James O’Sullivan, 52, was on his first day of work at Kilmallock Mart in Co. Limerick when the accident happened in March 2011. He heard the cry just before he saw the animal charging towards him along a chute which led to the auction ring, his counsel said.

Lorraine O’Sullivan SC said her client had dodged the heifer on its way to the ring but when the cow returned he sought safety in an empty pen. The animal jerked the door out of his hand and he got crushed between the heifer and the bars and fell to the floor.

Mr O’Sullivan told the court: ‘It all happened so fast... She was jumping and lepping. I ended up underneath her and after that things went blurry.’

He was taken by ambulance to Limerick University Hospital, where he remained for five days.

Counsel urged Judge Michael Hanna to award him significant damages to compensate him for the losses he suffered.

Counsel said Mr O’Sullivan had been kicked in the head by the heifer and had a cut to his forehead, a black eye and bruising to his abdomen. She said there had been an acute spinal cord injury, which had resulted in upper limb weakness, a lack of dexterity and fine motor functions.

Mr O’Sullivan has sued his employer, Farm Relief Services Network. He has also sued the operators of the mart, Golden Vale Co-Operative Mart Ltd.

Ms O’Sullivan said it was alleged that there was a lack of suitable training for Mr O’Sullivan, who was working in a confined area with potentially dangerous animals.

She said the defendants had countered that it must have been Mr O’Sullivan who allowed the heifer to escape.

The case is set to run for up to six days.