A former meat factory employee who lost the use of his arm because of allegedly negligent working conditions has settled his High Court case for a "substantial" six-figure sum.

Johnwin Turner, 29, of Station Manor, Tullow, Co. Carlow, was just 21 when the accident happened at Liffey Meats' Cavan factory in 2015.

He had begun work as a general operative in Ballyjamesduff, along with some friends.

On May 7, he was instructed to remove pieces of meat from a machine to clean it. Mr Turner, who was never trained in how to clean the machine, undertook the task, but due to significant noise on the factory floor, he was unaware that the machine was on when he inserted his hand.

While attempting to remove the meat, Mr Turner's left hand and arm got caught in the rotating blades of the machine.

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He suffered an open fracture to his left radius and ulna and a significant "degloving" injury to his left forearm.

Mr Turner was rushed by ambulance to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, where his wounds were cleaned and he had surgery on his arm to fix the fractures.

A plastic surgeon performed more surgery including a "free flap" to close the wound and he had a skin graft taken from his thigh and placed onto his left arm. He remained in hospital for a month.

In October 2015, Mr Turner received a bone graft. The court heard Mr Turner's arm remains non-functional as a result of his injuries with limited working options available to him.

It was claimed that Liffey Meats was negligent in exposing him to a risk of injury, in failing to give him adequate health and safety training, and in failing to warn him of the possible danger or to supervise his work.

The case was settled after opening before Judge Garrett Simons yesterday.

After the settlement, Mr Turner said he is currently on a disability allowance, which allows him to work just 21 hours a week, and he is employed as a part-time shelf-stacker.

"This is what my future looks like," he said. "I am heartbroken that my injury is so physically limiting and I cannot perform even the simplest of tasks with my left hand as a result of the injuries sustained in this work accident."

His solicitor Seán Fitzgerald said: "This case highlights the role of proper training in the workplace and the importance of stringent health and safety protocols."