The High Court has approved a settlement of €14.7 million in the case of a 37-year-old woman who was catastrophically injured in a car crash in Cork in October 2011.
Olivia Redmond O'Callaghan was 12 weeks pregnant with her third child when the crash, in which her husband was killed, took place.
The High Court heard the car, which crashed into a tractor, was not insured at the time.
She went on to give birth in March the following year but was catastrophically brain-injured and does not recognise her children or photographs of her husband.
At the opening of her legal action earlier this week, senior counsel Dr John O'Mahony said hers was "as serious as one can find in brain injury".
Ms Redmond O'Callaghan has been in hospital and residential care since the crash.
From Gowlane South, Donoughmore, Co Cork, she had sued her late husband's estate, the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) and Cork County Council.
Today's settlement was against the MIBI and Cork County Council.
She took her action through her stepfather Liam Power but her condition was so serious she was unable to attend court herself.
In her action she had claimed the road was defective, there was a tight bend with insufficient warning and restricted visibility due to overgrowth on an embankment.
Cork County Council denied all the claims and contended the bend was visible for 210 metres.
The council claimed the accident was caused by the alleged negligence of the late Mr O'Callaghan.
The MIBI - which compensates accident victims where there is no insurance policy in place - claimed Ms Redmond O'Callaghan allegedly failed to have any regard for her own safety and permitted herself to be carried in an uninsured car.
Mr Justice Paul Coffey approved a settlement of €14.7 million.
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Dr O'Mahony had described as "heroic" the plaintiff's mother, Norma Redmond Power, and stepfather, Liam Power, who are caring for the three children.
A statement issued on behalf of the family said the money will ensure they can plan for her future care and gives them hope for her further rehabilitation.
"Unfortunately, it will never bring our girl back to those of us who still miss her every day," they said.
In a statement read by their solicitor John Henchion, they said they were and continue to be most grateful to all those who helped Olivia and her late husband Myles at the scene of the crash on the afternoon of the crash and afterwards.
"On October 4 2011, our grandchildren lost their parents; our daughter lost her big sister and brother-in-law and we lost our eldest daughter and son in law.
"At 3.20pm that afternoon the car in which Olivia and Myles were travelling on the old Dublin to Cork road crossed to its incorrect side colliding with a tractor with devastating consequences.
"Myles succumbed to his injuries some days after the accident while Olivia was left with permanent and catastrophic brain injuries."
The statement continued: "We also acknowledge the shock that the tractor driver experienced that day and that he did all he could to try and take evasive action.
"The staff at the Cork University Hospital did immense work for both Myles and Olivia.
"Thankfully the skill of Mr George Kaar and his team together with the many supporting doctors and nurses managed to save Olivia's life and that of her unborn child such that we were able to welcome a new addition to the family some months afterwards.
"This was obviously a time of huge joy but coupled with enormous sadness as well."
They thanked all those who have cared for Olivia and who had gone beyond the call of duty in their care of her.
