A nine-year-old boy who escaped physical injury in two car crashes was awarded €18,000 damages yesterday for psychological trauma.
Ms Joanne Marmelstein, counsel for Luke Henry, of Kilcronin Court, Clondalkin, Dublin, told Judge Jacqueline Linnane in the Circuit Civil Court that Luke had been a passenger in his mother's car when it was rear-ended twice.
"He was fortunate on both occasions to have escaped physical injury, but afterwards suffered psychological trauma. He had recovered well from the initial crash in January 2001, when he suffered similar injuries in the second crash in April 2002."
She said the first accident, involving a car driven by Mr Jack Foran, of Russell Court, Proudstown Road, Navan, Co Meath, occurred close to Navan. Luke had been a back-seat passenger.
The second crash, involving a car driven by Mr Martin Hall, of Esker Meadow Green, Lucan, Co Dublin, occurred at New Nangor Road, Dublin, when Luke was again a back-seat passenger.
The boy had experience nightmares, a fear of travelling in cars and had become increasingly clingy to his mother.