A 64-year-old woman who lived for almost two years behind drawn blinds in her home following a robbery at work has settled a €60,000 damages claim for an undisclosed sum.
Theresa Cullen, formerly of Tamarisk Heights, Kilnamanagh, Tallaght, Dublin, told the Circuit Civil Court Monday that when she worked as a cashier in a Topaz filling station she had been confronted by two robbers, one carrying a wheelbrace. They had escaped with only a small amount of money.
Ms Cullen, who told barrister Andrew Walker who appeared with McKeever Solicitors for Topaz Energy Limited that she had since moved to a new home in Tralee, Co Kerry, said she froze when confronted by the robbers and was afterwards unable to leave her home alone for almost two years.
She had lived behind drawn blinds and would only go out when accompanied by one of her sons. She said she had gone to counselling once but, in a bid not to let the robbers win, had eventually taken up yoga to calm herself and help her recovery.
In her €60,000 damages claim for personal injury Ms Cullen claimed she had developed post-traumatic stress disorder and had to take anti-depressant medication while going through a very severe period of depression.
Source: Irish Times
