NOT even €35,000 will get a young Limerick schoolboy back on his bike after he was knocked down by a car outside his home, a court has heard.
Like all youngsters, Scott Kelly would hop on his bike after school and cycle to friends, over to soccer training or just ride around for the fun of it.
On June 9, 2011, he cycled out from the driveway at his home on South Claughan Road, Garryowen, only to be knocked down by a passing car.
At Limerick Circuit Court last week, Jack Nicholas BL, counsel for Scott and his father, told Judge Tom O’Donnell that the young Limerick lad was involved in what was described as a “nasty enough incident”.
He was thrown from his bike and hit the windscreen of the car.
Outlining the details of a €35,000 general damages offer which was being made by the insurance company for the driver of the car, Mr Nicholas said that the impact was so severe that the boy’s bike was “damaged beyond repair”.
Scott suffered a head injury, two black eyes, abrasions to his face, pain to his lower back and neck.
He was hospitalised and also suffered nausea and vomiting.
Mr Nicholas said that cold weather aggravates the pain for Scott but, after six months, the majority of his physical injuries had resolved.
However, despite his father buying him a new bike, he still hasn’t returned to cycling.
Even five years after the accident, doctors say that he still suffers from post traumatic anxiety and has missed some social events with friends that he would normally have engaged in.
Judge O’Donnell was shown a scar over Scott’s right eye and Mr Nicholas said that he felt the offer of €35,000, plus legal costs, was “fantastic” for the young man.
When Scott said that the he wouldn’t get back on his bike, Judge O’Donnell told him that even professional cyclists in the Tour de France fall off and get back on as he encouraged the 11-year-old to “make the most of the summer”.
Approving the offer and ordering that the €35,000 be paid in to court and invested until he turns 18, Judge O’Donnell wished him well and said that “I hope you get back on your bike”.
