Doctor awarded €668,000 after colliding with stray horse

A doctor who was seriously injured when a stray horse landed on the roof of his car was awarded damages of €668,352 (£586,637) in the Irish High Court.

The court heard on 10 June that Thomas Breslin, a 46-year-old GP from Ballyedmond, Co Wexford, will have to work part-time or retire early as a result of his injuries.

Making the award, the judge, Mr Justice Eamon de Valera, said that while Dr Breslin had made “a remarkable recovery”, it was clear he would continue to suffer “mentally and physically” as a result of the incident.

Barrister Richard McDonnell told the court the doctor had been driving along the road at Ballyedmond in January 2007 when a horse, which had escaped from a nearby field, collided with his car. It ended up on the roof of the vehicle, trapping him for two hours in severe pain, before rescue services managed to cut him free.

Besides undergoing back surgery and having a plate inserted in his neck, he suffered post-traumatic stress disorder, his barrister said. He had previously been an active sportsman, but was no longer able to take part.

Dr Breslin has sued the owner of the stray horse, Richard Johnston of Ballinastraw House, Gorey, Co Wexford. Liability for the accident was admitted and the case had come before the Irish High Court for the assessment of damages only.

Both parties declined to comment to H&H.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (23 June, 2011)

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