A court yesterday approved settlement figures of €80,000 each for the two sons of a woman killed in a car accident which was at the centre of the controversy resulting in the resignations of two judges.
During yesterday's hearing, Mr Justice Eamon de Valera criticised some newspapers for "pursuing" the two young sons of Mrs Anne Ryan, who died in an accident involving a car driven by Mr Philip Sheedy.
In what became known as "The Sheedy Affair", Supreme Court judge Mr Justice Hugh O'Flaherty; High Court judge Mr Justice Cyril Kelly, and Dublin County Registrar Mr Michael Quinlan, resigned following Sheedy's controversial early release from prison.
Mr Justice Eamon de Valera said in the Circuit Appeal Court yesterday that some newspaper reporting had adversely affected the Ryan family.
"Newspapers had not behaved themselves well in pursuing the two boys," Judge de Valera said when approving the settlements for 16-year-old James Ryan and 14-year-old George Ryan.
Mr Richard McDonnell SC, counsel for Mr John Ryan, the boys' father, who had brought a claim for damages on their behalf, told the court the case involved "a rather famous and notorious traffic accident".
Mr Ryan and his sons, of Tymon Crescent, Old Bawn, Tallaght, Co Dublin, had brought the damages claim against Philip Sheedy of Newpark, Leixlip, Co Kildare.
Mr McDonnell told the court that initial offers of €60,000 on behalf of one of the Ryan boys, and €80,000 on behalf of the other, had earlier been adjourned and there was now offers of €80,000 each which he was recommending to the court for its approval.
He told Mr Justice de Valera that the boys' father was now satisfied with both offers.
Judge de Valera said he was glad to hear that the additional funding had materialised. The boys had lost their mother and were now being well looked after by their father who, he said, had "behaved admirably".
He said newspaper reporting had adversely affected the family.
Newspapers had not behaved themselves well in pursuing the two boys and he would have commented upon that at some length had the opportunity arisen at the time.
Mrs Ryan was killed in the car accident at a roundabout on the Tallaght by-pass as she returned with her two sons from swimming.
Mr Sheedy was given a jail sentence but had his prison term reduced and was released in controversial circumstances which led to the resignations of Judge O'Flaherty, Judge Kelly and Mr Quinlan.