In this paper energy estimates for solutions of the Dirichlet problem for the biharmonicequation, expressing Saint-Venant's principle in elasticity, are proved. From these integral inequalities, estimates for the maximum modulus of solutions and the gradient of solutions with homogeneous Diriehlet's boundary conditions in a neighbourhood of an irregular boundary point or in a neighbourhood of infinity are derived. These estimates characterize the continuity of solutions and their gradients at these points.