Girl (9) hit by car at a crossing gets €35k

Ray Managh

A NINE-YEAR-OLD schoolgirl, who was run over by a car near her school, has been awarded almost €35,000 damages in the Circuit Civil Court.

Barrister Karl Sweeney said Fiona O'Brian's right leg was broken in two places and she had to spend nine weeks in a wheelchair as a result of the April 2009 accident.

The girl, of Kempton Green, Navan Road, Dublin 7, had been hit at a pedestrian crossing near her school in Kinvarra, Navan Road. She had been knocked down by a car driven by Ms Hazel Kelly, of Ashington Crescent, Cabra, Dublin.

"One of the wheels of the defendant's car went over Fiona's right leg, fracturing both bones in her lower leg," he told Judge Margaret Heneghan.

Mr Sweeney said the injury had healed after about five months.

Judge Heneghan approved a personal injuries settlement of €32,575 along with €2,000 special damages and costs.

hnews@herald.ie