The ambassador's reception may never be the same again as the makers of Ferrero Rocher chocolates were ordered yesterday to pay a Galway woman more than €20,000 to help repair her front tooth.
Ms Olivia Heffernan (25), from Moneenageisha, Galway, told Galway Circuit Court yesterday that she was tucking into her favourite chocolate when she felt a sharp pain and discovered that she had cracked her front tooth.
The offending chocolate contained a fragment of harmful material, the court was told, and she had to make a number of visits to her dentist to have the damage repaired.
A temporary repair was initially made to her upper left central incisor before a full crown was fitted.
Ms Heffernan said she suffered shock and upset over the incident, which happened in July 1998. Her legal team brought the action for damages under the 1991 Liability for Defective Products Act.
Ferrero UK Ltd, with registered offices at Hatter's Lane, Watford, Hertfordshire, admitted liability, and Mr John Kiely, defending, told the court that his clients exercised very strict controls over their production. He added that the claimant had made a full recovery.
Judge Harvey Kenny awarded Ms Heffernan €20,000 plus special damages, bringing the award to €21,307.