A WOMAN who claims she was injured by an unidentified hit-and-run driver while playing ball on a beach in Dublin has denied before the High Court she knew the driver’s identity but did not want to reveal it.
Siofra O’Loughlin (24), an accounts assistant from The Rath, Rolestown, Swords, Dublin, is suing the Motor Insurance Bureau of Ireland over an injury to her arm arising out of the incident at Dollymount beach on the evening of July 17th, 2006.
The bureau, which deals with accident claims arising out of uninsured and unidentified drivers, is opposing her claim.
It has argued that, shortly after the incident, she told gardaí she had fallen out of a car and did not want the matter investigated.
Ms O’Loughlin told the court yesterday she went to the beach with three female friends and they were playing softball when she slipped and fell face forward.
As she was about to get up, a car reversed towards her and one of its wheels went over her arm and also grazed her back, she said.
The driver drove away and the car stopped after 20m, she said.
Ms O’Loughlin said she was helped up by her friend and was in a hysterical condition sitting in her own car when she saw the driver of the other vehicle get out, look back, get back in and drive away.
While waiting for an ambulance to arrive, she said she could remember a Garda car coming along but could not remember what she said to an officer.
She suffered a fractured humerus, skin abrasions to her back and arm, and her arm was in a cast for several months. She later required an operation because the bone had not knitted properly, she said.
Under cross-examination by Vincent Foley SC, Ms O’Loughlin denied she told a garda shortly afterwards she had fallen out of a car and did not want the matter investigated.
When Mr Foley suggested she knew exactly who the driver was but did not want to say, she replied: “Not true.”
The hearing continues.