£1.25m damages over go-kart crash

A settlement was reached at the High Court in London

A computer expert who suffered severe brain injuries in a go-kart crash has accepted £1.25m in damages.

Paul Murphy, now 38, was injured in the collision at a kart circuit in Sittingbourne, Kent, in July 1999.

Mr Murphy, from Lewisham in south-east London, agreed the settlement from three defendants against whom he was taking action in the High Court.

Mr Murphy made a good recovery from his injuries but had to leave his job with a bank, the hearing was told.

It has been a long and difficult story for Mr Murphy Robert Glancy QC

The hearing was told Mr Murphy had been injured in a crash at Bayford Meadows Kart Circuit in Sittingbourne.

His counsel, Robert Glancy QC, told Mr Justice Hodge another driver, who collided with the back of his go-kart.

Mr Murphy's kart came off the track and collided with an unprotected lamppost.

'Horrible, tragic accident'

Mr Murphy's head hit the lamppost and caused severe brain injury.

Mr Glancy said his client's survival had initially been in doubt.

"It has been a long and difficult story for Mr Murphy. He was a very bright and promising computer expert with a fine career ahead of him," he said.

Mr Glancy said Mr Murphy's recovery had been good, "but sadly not such a recovery that enabled him to go back to work and do the things that he loved".

Mr Justice Hodge described the incident as "a horrible, tragic accident which spoilt Mr Murphy's career".

Mr Glancy said the agreed settlement order was against three defendants - Gerald Lilley, who owned and occupied the circuit at the time of the accident, the event organisers, Playscape Pro-Racing Ltd, and The Royal Automobile Club Motor Sports Association Ltd, the company which licensed circuits.