A teenage girl, who suffered a serious head injury when a car in which she was asleep on the back seat crashed after leaving a party, is to receive €1.25 million in settlement of her High Court action.
Ciara Kelly was 15 when the car careered off the road and crashed into a tree near Glenstal Abbey, Limerick, six years ago.
The 16-year-old female driver was killed in the crash.
Approving the €1.25 million settlement yesterday, Ms Justice Mary Irvine said the case was a tragedy “of enormous proportions” for Ms Kelly and for the young lady who died, Noreen Casey, in an incident driven by alcohol.
The judge was told Ms Casey had taken the keys of the car without the permission of its owner, who had earlier taken the keys from her.
Ms Kelly, Hilltop, St Patrick’s Road, Limerick, had, through her mother Annette Kelly, sued the owner of the car as well as the estate of Ms Casey, Grange West, Boher, Murroe, and the Motor Insurance Bureau of Ireland.
The settlement was against the insurance bureau as Ms Casey was not covered by insurance at the time of the crash on November 11th, 2006.
Ms Kelly claimed she continued to suffer physical pain, mental distress and discomfort, and also suffered a diminution of her enjoyment of life, was restricted in her everyday activities and had learning difficulties.