Posted: January 3rd, 2021
Judge Justice John O’Connor, at the Circuit Civil Court, has given his approval for a €26,000 child injury compensation settlement for Fran Rooney (8) who sustained injuries to her left ring finger when a fire escape door closed on it unexpectedly.
Appearing for the girl, Zarabelle O’Neill McAllorum, Counsel Fran Rooney at the Circuit Civil Court advised Justice O’Connor that the girl was only six years old when the accident took place. The compensation claim was made against the Department of Education and Skills on the basis that there was negligence with regard to the condition of the fire escape door at Gaelscoil Inse Choir, Islandbridge, Dublin in 2018.
Rooney advised Judge Justice John O’Connor that Zarabelle had initiated the legal action, through her mother Fiona O’Neill, against the Department of Education and Skills. In the action he listed the timetable of events that resulted in Zarabelle sustaining injuries to her left ring finger. Ultimately the nail from that finger was lost.
Mr Rooney advised Justice O’Connor that the fire escape door in question had been closed on her hand by another pupil. It was at once clear that Zarabelle’s finger was significantly damaged and she was rushed to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin to have the ailment reviewed by medical professionals.
In June 2019, seven months after the accident took place, Zarabelle’s doctors returned a diagnosis stating that the young girl yet to show adequate progress on her path to recovery. To address this she had a surgical procedure in order to have her left ring finger nail taken off while she was placed under general anaesthetic. According to Mr Rooney, following this surgical procedure Zarabelle developed a viral infection and had to receive medical attention which involved a course of antibiotic medication. The Judge was told that the young girl has now made a complete recovery from the injuries that she suffered.
A previous compensation settlement offer of €20,000 had been turned down by Zarabelle’s team of legal representatives. However, Judge O’Connor was told that this has not been accepted. Some time after this, the defendant’s legal team came back to the table with a higher compensation settlement offer of €26,000. This was accepted and approval for the settlement was accepted by Judge O’Connor. He commended Mr Rooney for arranging the higher compensation amount.
Categories: Child injury News
