Injured cyclist is awarded £0.5m

A Canadian cyclist forced to stop work after a road accident in Belfast has received more than £500,000 in compensation.

Martine Samray, 45, suffered multiple fractures when she was hit by a car in the east of the city in August 2000.

She was cycling with a friend along the Beersbridge Road when a car heading in the opposite direction knocked her off her bike.

Police decided not to prosecute but Ms Samray took a civil action for damages.

The case was contested and liability was eventually admitted. In a settlement announced to the High Court, Ms Samray has accepted £525,000 for her injuries and financial loss.

Ms Samray, a specialist technologist with aviation firm Bombardier Aerospace, was on secondment to subsidiary company Shorts at the time of the accident.

She has since returned to Quebec and initially went back to work. However, she was later assessed by Canadian medical authorities as unfit to continue.

Her solicitor said she was relieved that a settlement had finally been reached.

He said: "The accident has had a serious impact on Ms Samray's life in that she was not able to work.

"Our client is delighted that after seven years the case has been satisfactorily concluded."