Woman hurt by poster settles claim against FF
Sandra Memery leaving court in Dublin yesterday after settling her case against Fianna Fail and Executive Posters Ltd.
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A HOUSEWIFE who knocked her head against a low hanging election poster has settled a €38,000 damages claim.
Barrister John Nolan told the Circuit Civil Court yesterday that Fianna Fail and Executive Posters Ltd, Howth, Co Dublin, had jointly agreed to settle the claim.
Sandra Memery, of Dunard Drive, Navan Road, Dublin, claimed she had suffered a head trauma, after walking into a Fianna Fail poster, calling for a yes vote in the second Lisbon Treaty referendum, which took place in October 2009.
The 48-year-old alleged that she and her daughter, Nikita, had just left a McDonald's restaurant near her home on September 16, 2009 when the accident happened.
She had turned back to hand Nikita a bag and, as she moved forward again, she struck her head against the poster, lacerating her scalp and causing a soft tissue injury to her neck. She claimed the poster had a wooden backing as support.
Ms Memery, who is 5ft 5in tall, alleged the poster had been hanging at head height on a pole. In her civil bill, she claimed that Fianna Fail had revealed in discovery documents that the party recommended there should be a clearance of three metres from the ground to the lowest edge of election posters.
She had felt unwell about 24 hours after the incident and had attended her doctor.
Concussion had been suspected and her doctor had found a swelling over the right temporal area. X-ray excluded any fracture.
Spasm
A medical report stated her doctor had found Ms Memery had suffered a spasm in her neck muscles.
Rachael Meagher, counsel for Fianna Fail, alleged Ms Memery had failed to take adequate care for her own safety or keep a proper lookout.
A picture of a Fianna Fail poster, similar to the one used to promote its Yes to Europe campaign, was included in the file presented to court prior to the scheduled hearing.
- Ray Managh
Irish Independent
