The High Court has approved a settlement of €800,000 for the family of a builder who died following a fall from a roof on a building site in the midlands almost seven years ago.
Patrick O'Kane (34), a father of five, died following the fall at a site at Kilnacourt, Portarlington, Co Laois, on July 28th, 2000.
Patricia Corscadden, Mr O'Kane's partner and the mother of one of his children, of The Courtyard, Kilcock, Co Kildare, had brought an action for damages and loss arising out of the alleged negligence and breach of duty by BJN Construction Ltd, on whose construction site the fall occurred, and Allenway Ltd, who had employed Mr O'Kane.
The defendants had denied the claims.
Yesterday, Mr Justice John Quirke approved a settlement, for €800,000, reached between the parties.
At the time of Mr O'Kane's death, Ms Corscadden was expecting their first child. Their daughter Megan was born in December 2000. Mr O'Kane and Ms Corscadden had been together as a couple for three years, and had shared a home in Co Kildare.
Mr O'Kane had four children from his marriage to Elizabeth Louise O'Kane: Nichola (22), Fergal (19), Róisín (17) and Emma (12).
Ms Corscadden will receive €490,000 and their daughter Megan €50,000, while the balance of the settlement will be given to Elizabeth O'Kane, her children, and the O'Kane family.
