Woman was bitten on face and neck by rat on holiday

A DUBLIN woman was bitten on her face and neck by a large rat – as she slept in a Tunisian holiday hotel.

The first that Fidelma Allen knew she was not alone in her bed was when her daughter, Sarah, screamed when she saw the rat on her mum’s bed.

Yesterday Ms Allen, of Knocknashee, Goatstown, Dublin, settled her €38,000 damages claim for an undisclosed sum against Budget Travel and Sunway Travel.

Following talks between barristers Rossa Fanning, for Ms Allen, and David Richardson, for the defendants, the Circuit Civil Court heard the case had been settled.

Public court documents revealed that in the early hours of August 11, 2004, Ms Allen, 57, had been awakened by a slight pinch to her forehead which she had disregarded and had gone back to sleep.

Her claim stated she had later felt a sharper pinch to the back of her neck and had screamed out. This had awakened Sarah, who had told her mum she must be having a nightmare. Seconds later Sarah herself screamed when she saw a large rat on the top of her mother’s bed.

Ms Allen claimed the rat had bitten her on the forehead and on her neck.

Judge Jacqueline Linnane was told the case had been settled and, by consent, struck out Ms Allen’s claim with an order for costs in her favour against both Budget Travel Ltd, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin, and Sunway Travel Ltd, Marina House, Claremont Street, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.