Audrey Fitzpatrick settles claim against council and Irish Water over fall

The mother of Dean Fitzpatrick, killed in a knife incident involving his stepfather, David Mahon, has settled a €60,000 damages claim against Dublin City Council and Irish Water.

Audrey Fitzpatrick alleged in proceedings in the Circuit Civil Court on Tuesday that she had been injured when her foot went into an open shore on Lorcan Drive, Santry, Dublin on May 29th, 2014.

Barrister Conor Kearney, who appeared with solicitor Sandra McAleer for Ms Fitzpatrick, told Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain that following talks the claim had settled and could be struck out with no further order. Details of the amount of the settlement were not disclosed in court.

Ms Fitzpatrick, described as a home maker whose address was given as Lorcan Drive, Santry, Dublin, alleged that as she was walking on the public footpath on Lorcan Drive her left foot “suddenly and without warning” went into an open water shore causing her to fall heavily to the ground.

She claimed she injured her left knee which she had x-rayed at Beaumont Hospital. No bony injury had been detected apart from bruising and tenderness of the left patella area.

In her civil bill, Ms Fitzpatrick, who turns 48 next Tuesday, stated that due to a liver condition she had been unable to take strong painkillers. Following the fall she complained of intermittent aching in her knee and had been unable to wear high heels.

She claimed she had suffered pain and distress and discomfort which had disrupted her social, domestic and recreational life.

Ms Fitzpatrick’s husband David Mahon was found guilty last week of killing Dean Fitzpatrick.

Her daughter Amy Fitzpatrick went missing as a 15-year- old in Spain in 2008 and has never been found.