A woman who slipped on grapes while shopping in a Tesco supermarket has been awarded €1.4m in damages by the High Court.
The court heard 48-year-old Patricia Walsh from Carrigaholt in Co Clare had been left permanently disabled with severe back and other injuries after the incident in August 2012 at a Tesco branch in Kilrush, Co Clare.
Mr Justice Anthony Barr allowed a stay on the award pending an appeal, but he said €500,000 must be paid out now and 75% of Ms Walsh's legal costs must also be paid.
Tesco Ireland admitted liability on the first day of the case, which ran for seven days and involved evidence from 15 doctors.
Mr Justice Barr said it was clear Ms Walsh had suffered a serious injury to the muscles and ligaments of her lower back which caused her to experience severe pain.
He said he was satisfied she had suffered permanent back and bladder injuries rendering her grossly disabled in all aspects of her life.
The court heard she had treatment in Ireland and in the UK.
She continues to have constant pain on a daily basis and doctors believe she will need ongoing treatment.
The court heard she had a significant injury to her bladder.
She had to self-catheterise three times a day and has suffered psychiatric and psychological issues as a result of her injuries.
The court heard that she had formerly been an active sportswoman, who played GAA with Co Clare and Munster, but was not able to participate in sports and dancing with her young daughters.
The judge found that she would probably not be fit to return to work again.
The judge found that videos of Ms Walsh taken for Tesco by a private investigator, did not show her engaging in any activity inconsistent with her evidence.
She was asked about images from her Facebook page of her attending a One Direction concert with her children in Croke Park.
The judge accepted her evidence that she wanted to give her children some happy childhood memories and that she had been in pain afterwards.
In a statement, Ms Walsh's solicitors, Carmody & Co, said she was very happy and relieved at the outcome and particularly happy that Tesco had admitted liability at the commencement of the hearing.
