Mother awarded €5.75m over crash

A YOUNG mother, who was catastrophically injured when a van she was a passenger in crashed, has settled her High Court action for €5.75m.

The driver of the van in which Antoinette Breen (36) was in was later found to be three times over the legal drink driving limit, Mr Justice Kevin Cross was told.

Noel McMahon, SC for Ms Breen, told the court she had been left in a state just a stage above vegetative state and has been cared for in hospital since the accident three years ago.

Ms Breen, who has a young son, reacts to her family but otherwise has minimal responses, he said.

Her father, Gerard Breen, said the family was satisfied with the settlement “once Antoinette was taken care of ”.

Ms Breen, of Beaupark Road, The Loakers, Blackrock, Co Louth, through her father, sued the driver of the van, Declan McEvoy, of Doylesfort Road, Dundalk, Co Louth, as a result of the crash on June 15, 2014.

The van crashed head-on into an embankment and wall on Doylesfort Road.

It was claimed Mr McEvoy drove at excessive speed and drove in a careless and reckless manner. The claims were denied.

It was contended Ms Breen failed to wear a seatbelt and allegedly knowingly travelled as a passenger in the van in circumstances where she allegedly knew or ought to have known Mr McEvoy was intoxicated.

Mr McMahon said liability was admitted in the case subject to the claim of contributory negligence in relation to the seatbelt and allowing herself to be carried in a vehicle when the driver was intoxicated.