Cyclist settles case after collision with dog

A cyclist who claimed he was left with a painful debilitating condition after going over the handlebars of his bicycle when a dog collided with it has settled his action against the dog owners on undisclosed terms.

Eamonn Reilly told the High Court he still has constant deep pain in his hands after the incident which occurred during a Sunday cycle with a friend.

“My hands are completely crippled with constant pain. It drives you around the bend because you can’t do the things you want to do,” he told Mr Justice Kevin Cross.

Mr Reilly (53), Rockfield Close, Ardee, Co Louth had sued Michael and Philip Lynch, Johnstown, Dunany, Togher, Dunleer, Co Louth, owner of the collie dog, over the incident on May 19th 2013.

He claimed the dog had, suddenly and without warning, raced from the driveway of the house and collided with his bicycle.

He was thrown from the bicycle, knocked unconscious and suffered abrasions and a fracture to his left elbow.

He claimed there was failure to properly secure the garden to ensure the dog would not escape on to the road.

The court heard liability was conceded and the case was before the court for assessment of damages only.

The defendants pleaded Mr Reilly did not suffer an injury of any significance to his right hand in the bicycle accident but did so in another accident in October 2013 when logs on a log pile fell on his hand.

In evidence, Mr Reilly said he and a friend were on the way to Clogherhead when a dog ran out of a house.

The dog ran to his friend but Mr Reilly, who was doing about 30km per hour, hit the dog and went over the handlebars.

“I lost lots of skin. I was sore all over,” he said.

He said he fractured his elbow and was in a cast for six weeks. His hands and ribs “were killing” him and he had a lot of pain, he said.

He said he used to be sporty but cannot now run, cycle or do sporting activities.

He also said he used to play guitar in a band but he can’t do it anymore.

Cross examined by Turlough O Donnell SC, Mr Reilly disagreed with the contention he did not suffer an injury of any significance in the May incident involving the dog but had in the log pile accident a few months later.

When the case resumed on Thursday afternoon, Mr Justice Cross was told it could be struck out.