MOTORISTS FACE a daily dilemma of trying to work out what’s coming from where when they hear an emergency siren, a court heard yesterday.
The judge awarded damages to the driver of a car and his daughter after his car was in collision with a fire brigade.
Judge Matthew Deery said drivers were placed in a very difficult situation if given the green light while trying to work out from which direction a fire brigade or ambulance may be approaching.
The Circuit Civil Court heard that carpenter Nicolae David (32) had passed stationary traffic into the pathway of an oncoming fire brigade.
Mel Christle SC, who appeared with Tara Mulvenna for Mr David, said his client’s car had been hit broadside and written off. He and his baby daughter had been injured.
The judge said independent witness Louise McTiernan said Mr David had overtaken her and other cars at a junction while they waited at a green light to determine from where the emergency vehicle was approaching.
Judge Deery said her description was completely at odds with Mr David’s version of what happened at the junction of Fonthill Road and Boot Road in Clondalkin in November 2005.
She had not told investigating gardaí about the overtaking manoeuvre and often witnesses recollections were blurred by time.
The Circuit Court president said liability lay with fire-brigade driver Niall Murray who conceded his view had been obscured by a high wall at the junction.
Judge Deery awarded Mr David, of Bushfield Drive, Clondalkin, €13,400 damages for material and personal injury against Dublin City Council.
He awarded €9,000 damages to his now six-year-old daughter, Nicola, who suffered a minor skull fracture in the incident.