Man who suffered brain injury in Tipperary collision settles High Court action for €1.1m

High Court Reporters

A young man who, it was claimed, suffered a traumatic brain injury when the car in which he was a passenger went off the road has settled a High Court action for €1.1million.

Cian Slevin was only 16 years of age when the accident happened on the road between Newcastle and Cappoquin, Co Tipperary, at 10pm on January 27th, 2021.

Slevin’s counsel, Patrick Treacy, instructed by Cian O’Carroll solicitors, told the court that the driver of the car was 19 years of age.

He said Cian Slevin was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, and his head hit the ceiling of the car.

Counsel said it appeared that the car failed to negotiate a left bend on the road and careered off the road into a stream.

Cian Slevin, now aged 22 years from Ardfinnan, Co Tipperary, has sued the driver of the car, Feidhlim Ryder (24) from Newcastle,  Co Tipperary, as a result of the accident on January 27th, 2021.

In the proceedings, it was claimed there was an alleged failure to retain the car on the road surface in a safe and appropriate manner and an alleged failure to stop, swerve, slow down or in any other way control the car so as to avoid the collision.

It was further claimed that the car was allegedly driven at excessive speed, which rendered the driver incapable of controlling his vehicle.

All of the claims were denied.

Counsel said the settlement was reached after a protracted mediation. Slevin, he said, suffered a head injury and multiple spinal fractures.

He said it was their case that Slevin suffered a significant traumatic brain injury.

However, the court heard that the Ryder side did not accept that the degree of cognitive impairment was to the extent claimed by the Slevin side.

Treacy told the court there was a “vulnerability in the case.”

Approving the settlement, Justice Paul Coffey said it was fair and reasonable. He noted there was a real litigation risk in the case.