A young woman who was injured and whose mother was among five people killed when a Dublin Bus mounted the kerb at Dublin's Wellington Quay has secured €2 million in settlement of her High Court action.
Nuala Gilton (27), who has Down Syndrome, received extensive injuries to her lower legs in the incident on February 21st, 2004. Her mother Kathleen Gilton (69) died as a result of the incident.
Ms Gilton had sued Dublin Bus through her brother Liam Gilton, Newtown, Maynooth, Co Kildare.
Yesterday, Kieran Fleck SC, for Ms Gilton, said she had required six operations as a result of the incident. Liability was admitted by Dublin Bus and the family was happy with the offer of €2 million.
Describing the incident as an awful tragedy, Mr Justice John Quirke extended sympathy to the family on the loss of their mother in the crash but said they were lucky to have got Nuala back reasonably well. While the settlement could not compensate for what she went through, he had no hesitation in approving it.
In a statement of claim it was submitted that on February 21st, 2004 two buses owned and operated by Dublin Bus were involved in a collision on Wellington Quay as a result of which a number of passengers and pedestrians, including Ms Gilton, sustained severe injuries.
After the incident she was taken to St James's Hospital where it was noted her injuries were mainly to her lower legs. She had extensive degloving injury to the left leg extending from her thigh to her ankle.
In 2005, the Gilton family received €750,000 in settlement of their High Court action against Dublin Bus arising from the death of their mother. Mrs Gilton, a mother of four, was described as the "kingpin and mainstay" of her family. She is survived by her 84-year-old husband and two disabled daughters, the court heard.