Girls given €33,000 in compensation despite no injuries in crash

A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD girl and her five-year-old sister, both of whom escaped physical injury in a rear-ending accident more than a year ago, have been awarded €33,000 damages between them in an insurance company settlement.

Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke heard yesterday that sisters Amy and Izy Saul had missed only one day of school while attending their GP the day after the accident that involved their family car on February 11, 2016.

Barrister Francis McGagh, counsel for the girls, who live at Rossberry Terrace, Lucan, Dublin, told the court they had been offered settlement damages of €16,500 each, and their court costs, on behalf of defendant motorist Tadgh Hartnett.

Mr Hartnett, whose address was given as that of AIG Insurance, North Wall, Dublin, which made the €33,000 settlement offer on his behalf, was not in court for the brief hearing.

Mr McGagh said neither of the girls had suffered any physical injury in the accident, but had experienced psychological injuries following it.

Both were rear-seat re- strained passengers in their family car when it was rear ended by the defendant’s vehicle.

The court heard the children attended their doctor on the following day, missing that day of school. A medical report revealed that psychological injuries consisted of “a mild effect on the mental health” of both girls.

The girls’ mother, Claire Saul, indicated to the judge she was satisfied with the offer of damages. In an affidavit to the court, she said both her daughters would become nervous at times in a car which, their doctor had stated, was a common symptom following a road traffic accident and which he expected to diminish.

The girls attended their doctor the day after, missing one day of school