Tomas O’Leary, an Irish and former Munster scrum half, has sued the IRFU over a training ground accident. The accident occurred while
O’leary was doing a speed training routine while preparing for an upcoming Six Nations match against England.
The routine involved pulling a sled with a bungee cable. The cable snapped and hit O’Leary in the left eye which resulted in him nearly losing the sight in his injured eye.
The IRFU confirmed that contracts were modified in 2008 to include a clause allowing players to sue the IRFU if injured by faulty training equipment.
Having processed the claim through the personal Injuries Board the injured player has now filed a High Court action. Eye injuries awards are not listed on the website of the Board. The injuries Board, however, have said that injuries involving the loss of an eye have seen awards of more than €100,000.
Injuries board cases can go to the High Court if the injured party regards the award by the board as insufficient.