A young girl who developed a severe stammer and remains terrified of dogs after being bitten by a collie when she was five was awarded €425,952 damages in the High Court yesterday.
The action was taken by Melissa Jolley (11), suing through her mother Deirdre Jolley, now living in Australia and formerly of Santry in Dublin.
She had sued proprietors of holiday rental accommodation Patrick and Kathleen Brennan, of Green Meadow Farm, Avoca Road, Red Cross, Co Wicklow. The court was told the Brennans were insured with FBD insurance.
The defence had been willing to pay compensation for the attack, but disputed that the dog bites resulted in a speech impediment.
Mr Justice Kevin Feeney ruled that the attack caused the severe stammer, which could be permanent. Melissa had been left terrified of dogs.
One expert had described the speech impediment as the worst he had ever seen. The incident occurred in 2001 when the family stayed at the Brennans' rented accommodation. Melissa was playing when the Brennans' dog "Sam" suddenly bit her.