Judge halts nun's €38k crash claim

Judge Jacqueline Linnane said she preferred the evidence of the other driver who told the Circuit Civil Court there had been "no bang, no crash, no impact and no accident".

Sister Helen Ugbome, of the Nigeria-based Holy Family Sisters of the Needy, told the court she was driving home when the accident happened.

She said a car driven by Edel Macklin, of Willow Park Avenue, Glasnevin, Dublin, had rear-ended her vehicle when she was stopped at traffic lights on January 28, 2005.

Sister Ugbome, of Grange Court, Stamullen Road, Gormanstown, Co Meath, claimed she had suffered injuries to her neck and right shoulder and lower back.

CONFLICT

Ms Macklin, who said she had since moved to live in Dundalk, Co Louth, told the court she had been stopped at lights when Sr Ugbome had got out of the car in front of her and said her car had been struck and they had exchanged addresses and insurance details. She said there had been no contact whatsoever with Sr Ugbome's car and she had given her details just so she could move on.

Judge Linnane said that while there was a direct conflict of evidence she preferred the evidence of Ms Macklin who denied there had been any contact between the cars.

Dismissing Ugbome's claim the judge said she had heard evidence of Sr Ugbome having obtained an estimate for repairs to her car arising from a previous accident she had been involved in a month earlier.

hnews@herald.ie