Three teenage check-out operators who claimed they were traumatised by an armed raid almost seven years ago on Dunnes Stores, Northside Shopping Centre, Dublin, have lost damages claims for a total of €114,000 compensation against the company.
Aisling Martin (24), Elton Park, Ard na Gréine, Dublin, told the court she was hit in the side of her face by a shotgun pellet when a gunmen fired a shot in the store. Deborah Behan (25), Templeview Green, Clare Hall, Dublin, and Andrea Meehan (26), Clonshaugh Close, Clonshaugh, Dublin, told the Circuit Civil Court they suffered stress, anxiety, sleeplessness and flashbacks following the raid.
Sasha Gayer, counsel for Dunnes, said the raid by two men wearing balaclavas and carrying a sawn-off shotgun and a knife had been a "dash and grab" raid and had lasted only two or three minutes.
She said the gunman had put his gun to the head of shopping centre manager Dermot Martin, and had made him lie on the floor before rushing into Dunnes. There had been nothing Dunnes or the centre could have done to prevent or stop the raid.
Judge Jacqueline Linnane said Insp William Redmond had told the court in his opinion Dunnes and the centre had an adequate security system in place.
Dismissing the claims, Judge Linnane said that while she had every sympathy with the three girls involved in what must have been a very unpleasant experience, she could not see that any liability attached to Dunnes Stores.