Case summary
Coleman Legal LLP acted for a man who sustained life-changing injuries as a result of chemical vapour exposure in the course of his employment in Ireland. Following six years of legal proceedings, a six-figure settlement was reached in April 2026. The settlement reflects the permanent and extensive consequences of the injuries sustained, including the requirement for a kidney transplant. Philip Treacy, solicitor, acted throughout.
Client background
Our client was a working man in his mid-thirties when he was first exposed to the chemicals that caused his injury. He was employed, with a career and a livelihood built on his capacity to work. The exposure he sustained set in motion a serious and progressive deterioration in his health, the consequences of which ultimately required a kidney transplant and fundamentally altered every aspect of his working and personal life. By the time his case was resolved, he was in his mid-forties. The injuries he sustained were permanent.
What happened
Our client was exposed to chemical vapours during his employment. The exposure caused very significant damage to his renal system, ultimately resulting in kidney failure and the requirement for a transplant.
How the claim was investigated
Coleman Legal assembled a specialist team of expert witnesses to investigate and quantify the claim. Consultant engineers and an independent chemical expert assessed the nature and extent of the workplace exposure and established the causal link between the chemicals and the injuries sustained.
A consultant nephrologist provided detailed medical evidence on the extent of the renal damage and the clinical necessity of the kidney transplant. A vocational assessor and actuary calculated the lifetime financial losses arising from our client’s significantly reduced capacity to work. High Court proceedings were issued, and the case progressed over six years before a settlement was reached.
Outcome
We successfully negotiated a substantial six-figure settlement for our client in April 2026. The settlement is full and final. The amount reflects the medical, vocational, and financial consequences of the injuries our client sustained as a result of the chemical exposure, including the permanent impact on his capacity to work and his ongoing medical needs following the kidney transplant.
How Coleman Legal helped
Philip Treacy led this case from the initial instruction, recognising at an early stage that the injuries were of exceptional severity and required a substantial team of specialist experts across engineering, chemistry, and nephrology.
He coordinated the full expert investigation and ensured each element of the claim was comprehensively evidenced before proceedings were advanced. Over six years, Philip provided clear guidance to our client at each stage of the litigation and ensured the final settlement reflected the full extent of the harm he had suffered and the losses he had sustained.
“Our client faced permanent, life-changing consequences from his exposure to these chemicals in the workplace. Over six years, we built a case that fully reflected the medical realities of his situation, from the kidney transplant to the long-term impact on his working life. The settlement recognised the true extent of what he had been through.” Philip Treacy, Solicitor, Coleman Legal LLP.
Closing contact line
If you or a family member has suffered serious injury as a result of exposure to chemicals or hazardous substances in the workplace in Ireland, our personal injury solicitors can advise you on the legal position. Contact us on 01 531 3800.
