Girl (16) awarded €40,000 in damages for Tesco injury

A 16-year-old student, who injured her left knee and back after she slipped and fell in a Tesco store, has been awarded almost €40,000 damages in the Circuit Civil Court.

Barrister Rory O'Reilly told the court that in June 2013, Anne Teresa Stokes had been with her mother and two sisters at Tesco, Clearwater Shopping Centre, Finglas, Dublin, when the accident happened.

Mr O’Reilly said that Anne Teresa, who was 14 at the time, slipped on a liquid on the floor and fell on her knee. She had banged the back of her head in the fall.

Anne Teresa had been taken by ambulance to Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin, where X-rays showed no fracture. She had suffered soft tissue injuries to her lower back.

Counsel on Tuesday told Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke that Anne Teresa suffered from ongoing knee and back pain.

Through her father Bernard Stokes, of Barnamore Park, Finglas, Anne Teresa sued Tesco Ireland Ltd for negligence.

Mr O'Reilly said liability was not an issue in the case and Tesco had made a €39,433 offer, following an assessment by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board. Judge Groarke approved the offer.