A 27-year-old secondary schoolteacher, who suffered whiplash injuries in a car crash more than three years ago, has been awarded more than €30,000 damages in the Circuit Civil Court in Dublin.
Ms Ursula Duffy, with addresses at Millrace Manor, Maynooth, Co Kildare, and Laragh, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, told Judge Joseph Matthews she had suffered pain symptoms in her neck and lower back for more than two years after the February 2000 accident.
She told her counsel, Ms Niamh O'Carroll, that her back pain had been sharp at first but developed into a constant ache that was aggravated by driving. She also had persistent neck pain and a throbbing headache.
Judge Matthews said Ms Duffy's car had been "whacked" in the side on a roundabout near Liffey Valley shopping centre. She was entirely blameless and was entitled to €5,480 expenses for repairs to her car and medical costs. She had attended 53 sessions of physiotherapy.
He said hers had been a classic whiplash case and such injuries were notoriously difficult to assess.
"Of course, there are no broken bones in such cases but whiplash injuries debilitate and drain those unlucky enough to experience them," Judge Matthews said.
"They are troublesome, wearying injuries and Ms Duffy was reviewed on a number of occasions over two years and found to have ongoing symptoms. Her situation would not have been helped by her job which could be stressful."
Judge Matthews awarded her €5,480 special damages and added an award of €25,000 for her pain and suffering.