This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-33717829

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Blind adventurer Mark Pollock wins claim over paralysing window fall Blind adventurer Mark Pollock wins claim over paralysing window fall
(about 2 hours later)
A blind adventurer who sued friends after being left paralysed when he fell from a window in their home has had his claim against them upheld.A blind adventurer who sued friends after being left paralysed when he fell from a window in their home has had his claim against them upheld.
Mark Pollock, originally from Holywood, County Down, suffered a serious spinal injury in a 25-foot fall in July 2010.Mark Pollock, originally from Holywood, County Down, suffered a serious spinal injury in a 25-foot fall in July 2010.
A year earlier he had become the first blind person to trek to the South Pole.A year earlier he had become the first blind person to trek to the South Pole.
He is now set to receive compensation from his friends' household insurers to cover the cost of his long-term care.He is now set to receive compensation from his friends' household insurers to cover the cost of his long-term care.
The incident left him in a wheelchair and dependent on care.The incident left him in a wheelchair and dependent on care.
Mr Pollock, 39, blamed Enda and Madeline Cahill for his fall, saying the window should not have been left open.Mr Pollock, 39, blamed Enda and Madeline Cahill for his fall, saying the window should not have been left open.
But the Cahills, of Woodview, Remenham Lane in Henley, Oxfordshire, denied the fall was their fault in any way. But the Cahills, of Woodview, Remenham Lane in Henley, Berkshire, denied the fall was their fault in any way.
Mr Pollock was 22 when he lost his sight in 1998.Mr Pollock was 22 when he lost his sight in 1998.
But he went on to win bronze and silver medals for rowing at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.But he went on to win bronze and silver medals for rowing at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
He also took part in extreme marathons, and completed the 1,400-mile Round Ireland Yacht Race 10 days before the fall.He also took part in extreme marathons, and completed the 1,400-mile Round Ireland Yacht Race 10 days before the fall.
The judge at the High Court in London ruled that the open window created an obvious risk for a blind person, particularly on the second storey of a house with nothing to prevent a fall to the ground below.The judge at the High Court in London ruled that the open window created an obvious risk for a blind person, particularly on the second storey of a house with nothing to prevent a fall to the ground below.
"I am satisfied that the Cahills failed to discharge the common law duty of care they owed as occupiers," he said."I am satisfied that the Cahills failed to discharge the common law duty of care they owed as occupiers," he said.
"The open window was a real risk to Mr Pollock. They created that risk"."The open window was a real risk to Mr Pollock. They created that risk".
Mr Pollock, who now lives in Dublin, said in a blog post after the ruling that he had "expressly limited my claim for damages" to the £2m cap on the Cahills' insurance policy.Mr Pollock, who now lives in Dublin, said in a blog post after the ruling that he had "expressly limited my claim for damages" to the £2m cap on the Cahills' insurance policy.
"This is a fraction of the financial cost I bear as a result of the fall," he said."This is a fraction of the financial cost I bear as a result of the fall," he said.
"But I did not think it fair that my friends would have even one moment of worry that they would have to personally pay me a penny."But I did not think it fair that my friends would have even one moment of worry that they would have to personally pay me a penny.
"Spinal cord injury is described as a catastrophic injury because not only is it horrific for its physical and life-altering aspects, it is also prohibitively expensive.""Spinal cord injury is described as a catastrophic injury because not only is it horrific for its physical and life-altering aspects, it is also prohibitively expensive."
His solicitor Ben Rogers said the incident had left Mr Pollock with "enormous challenges in his life".His solicitor Ben Rogers said the incident had left Mr Pollock with "enormous challenges in his life".
"Mark Pollock is a remarkable man and has conducted himself with the utmost integrity in relation to this claim and his paralysis."Mark Pollock is a remarkable man and has conducted himself with the utmost integrity in relation to this claim and his paralysis.
"The damages are essential to assist him with his additional care and rehabilitation needs.""The damages are essential to assist him with his additional care and rehabilitation needs."