A trainee groom who received a kick in the face from a horse which suddenly reared and bucked while it was grazing in an orchard had her cheekbone fractured in three places, a court was told yesterday.

Ms Nollaig Walton, of Dunderrow, Co Cork, is suing a horse trainer, Mr John Murphy, from Upton, for damages in Bandon Circuit Court.

She was aged 17 at the time of the accident, which occurred in August 1989.

Ms Walton told Judge A.G. Murphy that her cheekbone was now slightly sunken and her left eye depressed. She also had some facial scars.

Judge Murphy said Ms Walton had suffered very serious injuries and asked the legal teams to consider talking to each other. Mr Liam Crowley, counsel for the defendant, told him a compromise was being negotiated, but the question of a settlement would require time and the matter was adjourned to the April sitting of Clonakilty Circuit Court.