by Andrew Carey
A WOMAN who fell off her bike twice and fractured her ankle on cycle trail while in the care of Brothers of Charity has been awarded €27,000 compensation.
Described as a “lovely, engaging and happy lady”, 36-year-old Marie Balfe lives at home in Shannagolden but is in the daily care of Brothers of Charity and on November 21, 2012 was on a cycling excursion on the Great Southern Trail in County Limerick.
Limerick Circuit Court was told that she was asked by one of the supervisors to move to the side to allow him overtake her but she fell from her bike and off the trail. She was helped back on her bike but fell again and fractured her ankle.
She was taken to the University Hospital Limerick for treatment the next day and a cast was applied after the swelling reduced two days later. She underwent physiotherapy treatment but still suffers pain after extended periods on her feet or in cold and wet weather.
It was accepted by the Brothers of Charity supervisor that this was the wrong procedure to adopt.
Counsel for Ms Balfe, Emmet O’Brien said that negotiations had taken place in October and an offer of €27,000 was made given that she still hadn’t full range of movement in her ankle two years after the accident.
Judge O’Donnell said that he would approve the award and wished Ms Balfe well in the future after he awarded costs against the defendants.
