A teenage girl who sustained serious head injuries in a car crash when she was an infant has secured some €2.5 million in settlement of her High Court action.
An application will be made later to have the girl made a ward of court.
The settlement was approved by Mr Justice Kevin O'Higgins in the proceedings brought by Ciara Alison Lambe, suing through her mother, Mary Lambe, Croley, Shercock, Co Cavan.
The action was taken against Éilish Deery, a teacher, Tullynahinera, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, arising from the collision on April 2nd, 1995.
It was claimed that on that date, Ciara was a passenger in a vehicle driven by her father from Shercock to Castleblayney near Tullynahinera when a collision occurred with a car driven by Ms Deery.
It was alleged Ciara sustained severe personal injuries. Ciara was rendered unconscious as a result of the crash and was transferred to Monaghan General Hospital by ambulance.
She was deeply unconscious and did not respond to any stimuli.
She had multiple scalp lacerations and was put on a life-support system.
She underwent surgery which saved her life, but the medical prognosis, the court heard, is that she will be unable to look after herself independently and will find great difficulty in securing appropriate employment due to cognitive and physical defects.