A young girl, who suffered nervous shock after seeing a helicopter explode into flames in a hotel car park, has had a settlement of compensation for a child witnessing a crash approved in the Circuit Civil Court.
Emma Reddan (6) of Bettystown, County Meath, was a passenger in her mother´s car when, in September 2008, the two-year-old girl witnessed a helicopter flown by Bill Curry from Kilcullen, County Kildare, crash onto the car park of the Neptune Hotel after a rotor blade of the Sikorsky S76 caught a lamp post.
Mr Justice Matthew Deery at the Circuit Civil Court heard how Emma suffered nervous shock as a result of witnessing the accident and – through her mother Martina – had sued Curry, GP Helicopter Services of Dublin and Barrack Construction Limited of Naas, County Kildare for her psychological injury.
Liability was accepted by the defendants and Mr Justice Matthew Deery heard that an offer of compensation for a child witnessing a crash of 10,000 Euros had been made to the family by the insurers of the helicopter.
Having being informed that the family were satisfied with the proposed settlement, Mr Justice Matthew Deery approved the settlement, which will now be held by the court until Emma reaches eighteen years of age.