COURTS: Two young Donegal siblings have been awarded €25,000 in compensation after they were involved in a hit and run collision in 2011.
On July 24th, 2011, the car a Donegal family were travelling in was rear ended, the driver of the other vehicle ‘took off over the border’.
It was later established that the driver of that vehicle was an uninsured driver.
Counsel for the claimants, Ms Patricia McCollum said an offer of €7,500 was put forward for the younger child, who was two years old at the time of the accident.
She said a report from Ms Ann O’Connell, consultant psychologist said that since the accident, the child was nervous while travelling in cars, “in case it would happen again.”
She said Ms O’Connell said the child was suffering in the mild range of post traumatic stress disorder.
Consultant surgeon Mr Kevin Moran said the child did not suffer any physical injuries, but suffered from general irritability.
Ms McCollum said on this basis, an offer of €7,500 was put forward for the now seven-year-old. She added that the child’s father requested a withdrawal of €500, in order to purchase an iPad for the child for school.
An offer of €17,350 was made for the older sibling, who was six-years-old at the time of the accident. A report from Mr Moran said the child sustained “direct trauma to the head and chest wall,” and suffered from “significant” psychological problems following the accident, including difficulty sleeping, flashbacks and nightmares.
A report from psychologist Mr O’Dwyer said the child now suffered from separation anxiety, sleep disturbance and travel anxiety.
A report more recent report from Ms O’Connell said the child suffered from borderline mild to moderate post traumatic stress.
Ms McCollum said that the older child, who is now ten-years-old, does not require any equipment for school, but the parents would like to purchase a present.
Judge John O’Hagan approved the offer of €7,500 for the six-year-old child, with €500 to be paid out, and the offer of €13,350 for the ten-year-old child, with €500 also to be paid out.