Settlement has been announced at the Circuit Court in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, of a civil action taken by Fine Gael MEP and agricultural journalist Mairéad McGuinness, against a car-hire company and its Wexford agents.
The claim arose from injuries sustained in a car accident in Monaghan nearly two years ago.
In the claim, which was listed for assessment before Judge Matthew Deery, Ms McGuinness sought damages for "severe and debilitating injuries" against the car-hire firm as a result of injuries received when she was a passenger in a car driven by her husband, which was in a collision with a hired car, owned by Hertz Rent-a-Car and driven by an American tourist.
The settlement was announced by barrister Kenneth Connolly on behalf of the plaintiff, but no details were given.
Ms McGuinness had claimed she suffered severe injury to her neck and back as a result of the accident, which happened in Monaghan on September 21st, 2003.
In the civil bill, issued on May 14th last year, Ms McGuinness said her injuries were severe and debilitating and "interfered with her enjoyment of life and all routine and other activities".
The action was brought against Ryan's Investments Ltd, trading as Hertz Rent-a-Car, at Ferrybank, Wexford, and MMM Ltd, trading as Bolands, in Waterford city.
Ms McGuinness claimed in her affidavit that neck pain resulting from the accident had caused restriction in her professional and personal life.
She also said she suffered from pain in her lower back and encountered difficulty with regard to rotation and had also experienced some problems in sleeping.
In a statement to gardaí following the accident, Ms McGuinness's husband, Tom, said the other car "just flashed out in front" of them, and there was nothing he could do to avoid it.
Ms McGuinness said that when she realised there was going to be an impact, as the other car was about to hit them, she put her hand on the dashboard and closed her eyes just before a "bang" as they were stopped.