Fiat companies yesterday won a Supreme Court appeal against a High Court order striking out their defence to a claim taken on behalf of two children severely burned eight years ago. The case now goes back to the High Court.
Costs were paid to the children, who were burned when their father's Fiat Mirafiori car burst into flames in the driveway of their home. In the High Court last year, the defence of the two Fiat companies was struck out after it was claimed the companies had failed to obey discovery orders for documentation on car fires in Mirafiori models between January 1st 1979 and June 23rd 1988.
Costs were paid to Lena Maria (9) and James Joseph Murphy (11) who, through their mother, Mrs Margaret Murphy, Borris, Co Carlow, sued Fiat Auto Spa, Turin and Fiat Auto (Ireland) Ltd, alleging negligence.