Court action settled over death of man knocked down while out walking

The family of a man who was knocked down by a car while walking at night near his home in Co Limerick has settled a High Court action over his death. 

 

Danny Brosnan, a father of five from Ballingarry, was 100 yards from his house when he was struck on September 3rd, 2018. 

 

The Brosnan family’s counsel, Tadhg Dorgan BL, told the High Court that the driver, Sarah Lynch, came forward five days after the incident. He said she told gardaí she was on her way home to Ballingarry village after attending an event at Martinstown Stud at the time. 

 

Counsel told the court that it was an apparent hit-and-run and there was a local campaign to get the driver to come forward. Ms Lynch believed she was not the first person to hit Mr Brosnan and that he may have already been on the ground. The settlement in the case was without an admission of liability and the claims were denied. 

 

Mr Brosnan’s widow, Bridget Brosnan, of Ryland, Ballingarry, had sued Ms Lynch, of Doonbeirne Drive, Ballingarry, over the death of her husband and resulting nervous shock. 

 

It was claimed that Ms Lynch was driving too fast in the circumstances and failed to slow down at all or in time. Further, Ms Brosnan alleged the car was being driven in a dangerous, careless and inattentive fashion in the circumstances. The claims were denied. 

 

Given the difficulties with liability in the case, an offer of €25,000 settlement was being recommended, counsel said. 

 

He said Ms Brosnan, who is in hospital and could not be in court, wanted it to be known that she at no time bore any ill will to the person who had knocked down her husband, but “she found it reprehensible somebody would leave the scene of an accident”. 

 

Mr Justice Paul Coffey noted the settlement and conveyed his deepest sympathy to Ms Brosnan and her family. 

 

The Irish Times