CHILD’S € 35K AWARD
A child has been awarded € 35,000 after being locked in a room accidentially at a creche in Cranmore for 30 minutes.
The award was made in settlement of the child’s action for damages at the Circuit Court in Sligo.
On being told of the offer of € 35,000 being made by defendant’s insurers, Judge Keenan Johnson said he was “agog” at the amount.
“I’m satisifed it is an excellent offer. I’m somewhat agog at the extent of it and I have no hesitation in recommending it,” Judge Johnson told the child’s barrister, Mr Keith O’Grady who was instructed by Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor.
The action was taken by the child through her mother against CTBF Resource House Centre and Sligo Springboard Company Limited which operates Resource House Creche at Racecourse View, Cranmore.
Liability was accepted by the defendants.
Mr O’Grady told the court that on July 18th 2013 a trip had been organised by the creche but the child, who was almost two at the time, was left behind in a locked room on her own for thirty minutes.
Mr O’Grady explained that the injury suffered by the plaintiff was wholly physchological.
The child was brought to her GP.
She was crying excessively in the aftermath of the incident and had also become clingy with sleep disturbance also.
The Personal Injuries Asessment Board did not assess the palintiff ’ s claim on the basis that there was no physical injury and the matter proceeded to court.
Mr O’Grady said the plaintiff was seen by a clinical psychologist on May 9th last and a report was prepared.
The defendants made an offer subsequently of € 35,000 plus costs at a settlement meeting on May 11th last.
It was intimated that there would be no further offer.
Mr O’Grady said the child continued to make improvement and her parents were happy that she will.
Mr O’Grady said he had never dealt with a case like this before but he was happy to recommend the settlement.
The child’s parents were also happy with the offer.