Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 0583Personal injury · Co. Dublin

Woman who tripped on housing estate footpath awarded €110,000 by High Court

Carol Loua, a healthcare assistant, tripped and fell on a footpath at Broadfield Court, Rathcoole, Dublin in April 2018, fracturing her shoulder. Her foot caught on concrete projecting upwards from the ground, which the court found was caused by root action from a lime tree planted by Cavan Developments Ltd in the adjacent verge. She was walking to the hairdressers when the incident occurred. The High Court, with Judge Denise Brett presiding, awarded her €110,000 in damages. The case against South Dublin County Council was dismissed.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court17 Jul
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced17 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Carol Loua, a healthcare assistant, tripped and fell on a footpath, fracturing her shoulder.
Where
The incident occurred at Broadfield Court, Rathcoole, Dublin.
When
The incident occurred in April 2018.
Cause
Her foot caught on concrete projecting upwards from the ground, caused by root action from a lime tree planted in the adjacent verge.
Other details
  • The lime tree was selected and planted by Cavan Developments Ltd, which arranged for the tree's removal in October 2017 but no remedial work was done to the adjoining footpath.
  • No notification of the footpath or tree condition was given to South Dublin County Council.
  • She was walking to the hairdressers when the incident occurred.
In court
  • The case was heard in the High Court before Judge Denise Brett.
  • The case against South Dublin County Council was dismissed.
Sentence
Carol Loua was awarded €110,000 by the High Court.
35 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMuna Sharif, 47, a healthcare assistant, was jailed for 18 months for smuggling a fellow Somali woman into Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA woman presented a passport at Dublin Airport with a photograph that did not match her. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe Swedish passport was in the name Badra Mohammad Ahmed and was not the woman's own. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe woman, Asia Mohammad Ahmed, immediately claimed asylum upon presenting the passport. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSharif was observed in the baggage hall looking towards Ahmed and was seen to take a suitcase with a name matching that on the passport. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSharif had booked and paid for Ahmed's flight to Dublin using a bank card found on her at her arrest. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA WhatsApp thread was found between Sharif and the genuine owner of the Swedish passport in which Sharif offered 1,500 Swedish krona for its use. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSharif said she was asked by a third party to travel from Birmingham to Düsseldorf to meet the Somali national and bring her to Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • what€1,000 found on Sharif at the time of her arrest will be subject to a forfeiture application. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSharif arrived in the UK in 2002 and has since become a naturalised citizen there. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSharif has never been in trouble before and is now suspended from her employment as a result of the offence. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAhmed is in her 20s. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThere was an active conflict in Somalia with a terrorist organisation in control of the region. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAhmed was fleeing the area to avoid being forced into a marriage. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe woman tripped and fell on a footpath in a housing estate (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe fall caused a fractured shoulder (irishtimes.com)
  • whereSharif has an address at Bodmin Grove, Birmingham, England. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereAhmed and Sharif had travelled together from Düsseldorf but disembarked separately and presented at separate immigration booths. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereAhmed had lived in Libya for four years after leaving Somalia before moving into Europe via Milan. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incident occurred at Broadfield Court, Rathcoole, Dublin (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident occurred in April 2018 (irishtimes.com)
  • causeHer foot caught on concrete projecting upwards from the ground (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe pavement differential was caused by root action from a lime tree planted in the adjacent verge (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationDet Garda Kerrie Sullivan of the Garda National Immigration Bureau testified at the trial. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeSharif pleaded guilty to intentionally assisting the entry of a person into the State on 10 April. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case against South Dublin County Council was dismissed (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Denise Brett presided over the case (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceCarol Loua was awarded €110,000 by the High Court (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCarol Loua is a healthcare assistant (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe lime tree was selected and planted by Cavan Developments Ltd (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe developer arranged for the tree's removal in October 2017 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherNo remedial work was undertaken to the adjoining footpath (irishtimes.com)
  • otherNo notification of the footpath or tree condition was given to SDCC (irishtimes.com)
  • otherShe was walking to the hairdressers when the incident occurred (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 Jul2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Woman who tripped on housing estate footpath awarded €110,000 by High Court

    Reports the High Court judgment awarding €110,000 to Carol Loua for a personal injury caused by root action from a lime tree planted by Cavan Developments Ltd at Broadfield Court, Rathcoole, with the case against South Dublin County Council dismissed.

    victim, Carol Loua, femaleCarol Loua
  2. 17 Jul2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    UK healthcare assistant jailed for helping woman enter Ireland on ‘lookalike’ passport

    Reports the sentencing of Muna Sharif for immigration fraud at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, including details of how the fraudulent Swedish passport was obtained and used, and the circumstances of Ahmed's arrival at Dublin Airport.

    convicted, Muna Sharif, 47, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Muna Sharifvictim, Asia Mohammad Ahmed, female, Somali, non-irishAsia Mohammad Ahmed