A schoolboy, who was slapped in the face by a taxi-driver after a snowballing incident, has accepted a lodgement of £500 in settlement of a claim for assault damages. Mr Michael Coen, for Thomas Quinn, Kilcarrig Green, Tallaght, Dublin, told the Circuit Civil Court yesterday taxi-man Peter McCartan had been convicted of common assault in the district court and given the Probation Act.
Mr Coen told Circuit Court President Mr Justice Smyth that McCartan, of Bawnville Drive, Tallaght, had jumped from his taxi, which had been pelted with snowballs, grabbed Quinn (who was then aged 12) by the arm and slapped his face.
Mr Coen said McCartan had conceded in the district court he could not be certain the boy had thrown any snowballs at his car. Mr Justice Smyth said the boy had received only very minor injuries and approved of the £500 being paid out. He awarded costs against McCartan.