A five-year-old schoolgirl who cut her forehead against a doorframe in a créche, has been awarded €52,500 damages in the Circuit Civil Court.
Barrister Conor Kearney told the court that Amy Dunne had been left with a permanent visible scar on the right side of her forehead after the incident happened at Bonnybrook Créche, Bunratty Drive, Coolock, Dublin.
Mr Kearney said that in September 2012, Amy, who was only two years old at the time, had been walking to the créche toilet holding hands with three other children when one of them tripped.
Amy had then fallen and struck her head on the doorframe, lacerating her forehead.
She had been taken to the Emergency Department of the Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street, in Dublin, when her wound had been cleaned and glued with steri-strips.
Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke heard that the wound had left a two-and-a-half centimetre scar on Amy's forehead, and that she may need to undergo cosmetic surgery in the future.
Through her father Philip Dunne, of Woodlawn Court, Santry, Dublin, Amy sued créche owner Jim Launders, of Gin Road, Bonnybrook, Coolock, Co Dublin, for negligence and breach of duty.
Mr Kearney claimed the créche had failed to have an appropriate childcare worker accompanying the children on the day of the incident and said that allowing very young children walking together holding hands was not a safe system.
He told Judge Groarke that since the accident, the créche had changed its policy of allowing children to hold hands to go to the toilet.
Counsel said Mr Launders’ insurance company had made a €52,500 settlement offer, and he was recommending acceptance of it to the court. Judge Groarke approved it.