Three children awarded £23,500

Three children who survived a car crash which gardai felt no one could have got out of alive have been awarded a total of £23,500 damages in Dublin Circuit Civil Court for whiplash injuries and cuts. Mr Paul Coffey, counsel for Sarah (5), Philip (7) and John O'Connor (14), of Church Gate, Station Road, Wicklow, said the family's car had been written off when an articulated truck crashed into the rear of it in traffic at Loughlinstown, Co Dublin. He told Circuit Court President, Mr Justice Esmond Smyth, that the defendants, Roadtrain Ltd, Bluebell, Dublin, had offered damages totalling £23,500 to the children. Mr Justice Smyth approved settlements of £6,000 for Sarah, £7,500 for Philip and £10,000 for John.