Caroloine Grainger of Portmarnock, County Dublin, has been awarded €25,000 damages against a burglar who terrorised her while robbing her possessions in her bedroom in March 2004.
Ms Grainger said that she thought she was going to be killed when two men pulled her blankets over her head. Simon O’Connor of Donnycarney, Dublin, later pleaded guilty to burglary in the Circuit Criminal Court and was jailed for five years.
Ms Grainger testified that she still suffered nightmares and flashback and now slept behind locked doors. Medical evidence was given that Ms Grainger had suffered mild to severe post-traumatic stress syndrome. The case was heard by Mr Justice Matthew Deery and the compensation award was made for emotional stress, assault, and trespass.