Galway Bay fm newsroom - A man who claims he suffered a brain injury after hitting a pothole on his bicycle near Parkmore is suing Galway County Council in the High Court.
Nathan King from Castlegar, who was 16 at the time of the accident, was cycling home from hurling training in March 2012 when he allegedly hit 'something' in the road - and subsequently woke up in hospital.
Nathan King of Baile an Choiste, Castlegar claims he was propelled over the handlebars of his bicycle after hitting a pothole at Parkmore Hill on his way home from training at 9.30pm on March 20th, 2012.
Mr King, who was a 16 year old leaving cert student at the time, says the next thing he remembers is waking up in hospital after suffering a brain haemorrhage which left him in a coma.
The High Court heard Mr King was a good student prior to the accident, but his life now is one in which everything is a difficult struggle.
The now 21 year old alleges the County Council failed to put any measures in place to prevent persons hitting the uncovered surface or to highlight its existence.
The local authority denies these claims - it alleges Mr King was cycling downhill at excessive speed, was not wearing a helmet, was cycling with a hurley across the handlebars, had no lights and failed to see where he was going.
According to the Irish Times, attending Garda Sheena Gill told the court at a distance from the bicycle there was a manhole cover with potholes to the side of it.
She said there was a skidmark from the manhole which had what looked like skin and human hair on it.
The case continues before Mr. Justice Anthony Barr.
