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A spectator at a golf tournament who was hit in the head with a golf ball and was knocked unconscious has filed a suit for damages in Superior Court.
Colm Campbell claims that he is in constant pain and that his life has completely changed after he was struck on the left side of the forehead during the 2016 Western Ireland Championship for amateur golfers held at the County Sligo Golf Club in Rosses Point, Sligo.
He has sued Kevin Le Blanc, who at the time was one of the best amateur golfers who then turned pro for several years; County Sligo Golf Club and the competition organizers, The Golfing Union of Ireland.
Opening the case on Thursday, Liam Reidy SC, instructed by Damien Tansey’s attorney, said that his case was that Mr. Le Blanc, when he was in the rough on the 11th green and on the 12th tee, struck the ball , ran off the green and hit Mr. Campbell on the head.
The lawyers said they maintain that it was “an errant shot” and, if a shot is missed, there is a fundamental obligation to yell “forward” because someone could get in your way.
“It is a key standard that applies to all golfers, from the elite to the lower echelons, particularly in circumstances where the game is being watched by a group of spectators,” said Reidy.
Noel McCarthy SC, for Mr. Le Blanc, said that his case is that it was not a misguided shot, but rather a competent shot and that is why the golfer did not yell “forward”. Mr Le Blanc will say that the shot was a perfectly well hit shot and not one that forced him to call “forward,” the lawyer said.
Mr. Campbell (65), father of three from the City of Donegal, has sued County Sligo Golf Club, Rosses Point; the event organizers, The Golfing Union of Ireland National Coaching Academy Ltd, with offices in Maynooth, Co Kildare and Mr Le Blanc, Donabate, Co Dublin regarding the incident of March 28, 2016.
It is alleged against the County Sligo Golf Club and the Golfing Union of Ireland that reasonable care was not taken for the safety of spectators to advise competition attendees that they should not be located where Mr. Campbell suffered the injury. injury.
It is alleged against Mr. Le Blanc that he allegedly failed to warn viewers, including Mr. Campbell, of the dangers of which he should have been aware.
All claims are denied and it is alleged that there was contributory negligence on the part of Mr. Campbell, who was allegedly in conversation without looking at the golfer taking the shot. It is further alleged that Mr. Campbell did not take advantage of his vast experience as a golfer and did not follow the flight of the ball and adjust his position accordingly.
As evidence, Campbell said he was speaking, there was a bang and that’s all he remembers.
He said he was kept in the hospital until dawn for observation and that when he was discharged he was in pain. “The next few days were terrible. I was in a lot of pain, it didn’t get better, ”he said.
He said he has constant aches and tinnitus in one of his ears, which is “excruciating.”
“My life changed completely,” he said. Although he still plays “a little golf”, he is “very afraid of being hit again.”
The case continues next week before Judge Bronagh O’Hanlon.
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