The family of the late RTÉ presenter Uaneen Fitzsimons has succeeded in its High Court action for damages arising from the 29-year-old broadcaster's death in a crash in Co Laois seven years ago.
The action was brought by Sharon McKee, a schoolteacher and sister of Ms Fitzsimons, on behalf of her family, against Woodside Haulage Ltd, the company that owned the articulated lorry which was involved in a collision with the car in which Ms Fitzsimons was a passenger near Borris-in-Ossory just after 1pm on November 22nd, 2000.
Laois County Council was later joined to the proceedings after Woodside made a number of claims relating to the state of the road on which the collision occurred.
The action opened yesterday before Mr Justice Vivian Lavan with Ms McKee represented by Patrick McCarthy SC, while Vincent Foley SC represented Woodside.
At the outset of the case, Mr Justice Lavan dismissed the claim by Woodside of negligence against the council in relation to the death of Ms Fitzsimons.
In his decision, the judge referred to evidence to the effect that 500 heavy goods vehicles used the stretch of road daily and that there had been no accident in the area previously.
The judge found liability against Woodside Haulage Ltd, of Carrickfergus Road, Ballynure, Ballyclare, in relation to the collision.
The case proceeds today to assess the amount of damages.