Boy gets €33k for pothole accident
Sligo County Council has been ordered to pay €33,000 in damages to a 12-year-old boy who fractured his wrist after his bicycle hit a pot hole.
At Sligo Circuit Civil Court Judge Francis Comerford confirmed a settlement of €33,000 plus legal costs to the boy who had sued the local authority through his mother.
The court heard on April 14 th 2018, the then 10 year old was cycling in Cartron Estate and was thrown from his bicycle due to the ‘defective makeup of the road’ and he had hit a pot hole.
Mr Peter Daly, BL, instructed by McGovern Walsh and Co Solicitors told the court the boy suffered a displaced distal fracture to his wrist.
He was six weeks in a cast. The court was told the boy had a slight angulation of his wrist after, was in extreme pain and ‘not himself for a protracted amount of time’ following the accident but had since made a complete recovery.
Judge Comerford described the offer as a ‘good settlement for the plaintiff ’ and ruled that the €33,000 payment plus legal costs be paid within three weeks of the court date and be held for the minor until he reaches the legal age of 18 to receive it.
At the same court, a UK home improvement centre has been ordered to pay €12,500 to a 12 year old boy who tripped over a mat in its Sligo store.
Homebase has been ordered to pay the settlement to the boy who sued the company via his father.
The court was told on June 6 th, 2017 when the boy was 9 years old he and his mother and cousin were at the store at Carraroe Retail Park. On exiting the store the boy tripped over a rolled up floor mat left at the exit.
The court heard the boy injured his right knee and went to Sligo University Hospital Emergency Department with bruising and swelling.
The boy was walking with a limp. When x rayed his knee was found to have no abnormalities and he was advised to rest and take painkillers.
The boy was described as an accomplished boxer and had stopped playing football and had discomfort walking long distances. The boy had since made a recovery.
Judge Comerford described the €12,500 offer, plus legal costs was ‘a very strong offer’