A Co Meath fitter, who alleged he was attacked and bitten by a rat in his Spanish holiday apartment, has settled a €38,000 damages claim against the holiday firm for an undisclosed sum.
Mr Patrick J. Reilly's wife, Linda, similarly accepted an undisclosed settlement figure from Falcon Holidays and yesterday in the Circuit Civil Court a judge approved settlement offers for the couple's two children, Donna (8) and Niamh (4).
Mr Fintan Hurley, counsel for the Reillys, who live at Dunfierth, Enfield, Co Meath, told Judge Alison Lindsay the family had gone on a week-long holiday to the Lagotel Apartments, Alcudia, Majorca, in September 2001.
The holiday had been booked with Falcon Holidays/JWT Holidays, Pearse Street, Dublin. Four days into their Spanish break Mr Reilly had opened a wardrobe door in their apartment when a rat jumped out and attacked and bit him on the arm.
Mr Hurley said the family was unwilling to remain in the apartment and had insisted on being moved. They had been offered another apartment but had turned it down because of an infestation of insects and ended up sharing a friend's apartment for the remainder of their holiday.
Mr Hurley told Judge Lindsay that Mr and Ms Reilly had already settled their claims with Falcon Holidays. The holiday firm had additionally offered compensation of €1,000 each to Donna and Niamh and he was asking the court to rule on the adequacy of the settlement.
He said the children had been horrified by their and their father's experience. Judge Lindsay approved the settlements for the two children.
Falcon Holidays had denied that Mr Reilly had been bitten by a rat.