A woman who was head-butted by a camel in the Sahara desert has settled a damages claim in the Circuit Civil Court.
The claim was for a maximum of €38,000. However the amount of compensation accepted was not publicly disclosed in court by her counsel, Shane English, when he asked for the case to be struck out.
Paula Healy had taken the action against Panorama Holiday Group (Ireland) Ltd and Sunway Travel Ltd.
Ms Healy (53), of Springhill Avenue, Blackrock, Dublin, had claimed that during a holiday in Tunisia in February 2002 she had booked an excursion into the desert through the Panorama company. It consisted of a two-day trip, involving an overnight stay, through the Sahara desert to an oasis.
After a journey into the desert of several hours, a camel ride was provided.
Ms Healy alleged that she had been told to get on to a camel and had been instructed in the manner in which she should do this.
In her civil bill she claimed that, in the course of mounting the camel, it had thrown back its head, striking her in the face and head.
Her glasses had smashed, causing deep cuts to her right eyebrow and eyelid, and to the side of her face.
A shocked Ms Healy had been taken to a clinic, which had caused her great concern in relation to its alleged failure to comply with basic hygiene conditions.
She claimed she spent the remainder of her holiday in her room at the Kantaoui Hotel.
Public documents in her case revealed she suffered cuts and bruising, and had been left with what was medically considered to be a permanent scar on her eyelid.
Both defendants had entered a full defence to Ms Healy's claim.
Mr English told Judge Alan Mahon the case had been settled following talks and could be struck out.
