Corofin couple win rats in car case

THE motor giant Toyota should have put more thought into making sure its cars are rodent-resistant. That was the verdict at Galway Circuit Court last week when a Corofin couple won a judgment against the car maker. Ina and Alan Dempsey, Cummer, Corofin, both bought new Toyota Avensis diesel cars in 2006 and 2007.[private] In January 2008 Ina got into her car to go to work and saw a significant hole in the back seat. Enquiries revealed that both cars had been infested by rats, which had entered through a vent in the boot. They later sold the cars as pest-damaged to a trade buyer and made a total loss of €18,200. Judge Keenan Johnston found that neither Toyota Ireland nor Tom Hogan motors had made any real effort to engage with the plaintiffs. Evidence was given by other witnesses of rodents entering Avensis cars. One was a woman from Waterford with a six-week-old baby at the time, another a man from Loughrea. Another case occurred in Cork. The Judge said Toyota was aware of the problem from 2004 and while they were not obliged to make the car rodent-proof, they should make it as difficult as possible for a rodent to enter. He awarded €25,000 plus costs to the Dempseys.[/private]