The deaths of all three members of the Co Cork band Nivita - sisters Anita and Niamh O'Herlihy and Carmel Conroy - in a road accident three years ago was recalled in the High Court yesterday in proceedings brought by the family of the O'Herlihy sisters.
The President of the High Court, Mr Justice Finnegan, approved a settlement of almost €108,000 in the action brought by the father of the two girls, Mr Liam O'Herlihy, of Mountcorbett, Churchtown, Mallow, Co Cork, against Elizabeth Corbett, of Walshestown, Churchtown, Mallow.
The two sisters, Ms Carmel Conroy and Ms Conroy's two-year-old daughter were killed on October 27th 1999 at Rathgoggin, Charleville, Co Cork. The sisters were passengers in a car driven by Ms Conroy which collided with a car owned by Ms Corbett.
Dr John O'Mahony SC, for Mr O'Herlihy, said that the action arose out of a tragic accident in which two beautiful and very talented sisters had been killed.
Counsel said that the sisters had formed their own band along with Carmel Conroy. At the time of the accident, they had 20 bookings and had made a CD.
Mr Justice Finnegan approved a €107,927 settlement, which included a sum for mental distress and expenses incurred for the girls' funerals.
Of the €50,787 allocated for mental distress, the judge directed payment of €10,787 to the dead girls' mother, Mrs Marie O'Herlihy, and €10,000 each to Mr O'Herlihy, the girls' sister, Karen (25), and brothers Joseph (16) and Liam (12). The remaining sum from the settlement - €57,140 - goes to the parents.