A judge yesterday refused to allow a father to try to recover more damages than on offer for a dog bite to his son's head.
In the Dublin Circuit Civil Court, Judge Kevin Haugh said: "It is my duty to decide whether it's in the best interests of the child to accept what's on offer or risk losing everything."
He told Mr Des Perkins, father of Karl Perkins (13) of Killakee Green, Tallaght, Dublin, there was too great a risk of failing to prove liability against the dog's owners, Mr James Boyd and Ms Caroline Boyd, Deerpark Road, Belfast.
Judge Haugh ordered that the £2,500 damages and costs on offer from the Boyds' insurers be accepted.