13/11/2012

€3.8m Compensation Upheld For Paralysed Man

A man left severely brain damaged 12 years ago after his then-girlfriend threw a bottle during a row has been awarded €3.8m under a criminal injuries compensation scheme.

43-year-old Jason Clarke suffered the assault on New Year's Eve 2000 outside the Blue Light pub in Glencullen, Dublin.

Mr Clarke, who had been studying to be a physiotherapist at the time, suffered a burst blood vessel in his brain, causing him to have two or three strokes.

He also lost consciousness, which he did not regain for another three months, and is now in a wheelchair.

He had been out with a group of friends in the pub when a row broke out and his then-girlfriend struck him. The row continued outside the bar and she threw a bottle at him, striking the back of his head, the High Court heard.

Jennifer Mayberry, of Tudor Lawns, Foxrock, was arrested a month after the incident, pleaded guilty to assault and received a suspended jail sentence.

She was 21 at the time of the assault and the DPP found there was no malice intended to cause such tragic injuries. In 2002, Mr Clarke brought a claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal which made a total award of around €3.84m with just over €1m in interim payments already made.

Yesterday, his father Frank asked High Court President Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns to rule on the adequacy of the award.

The judge effectively rubber stamped the tribunal's award – although the court heard that Jason might need more money in the future.

(H)


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