An electric charge from a defective pedestrian crossing button passed harmlessly through the body of a three year old boy before injuring his mother, a court has heard.
Judge Harvey Kenny in the Circuit Court said it was an accepted phenomenon that in electrical shock cases the person "at the end of the line" could receive the most serious injury.
He awarded Ms Edel Murphy, of Lismore Road, Crumlin, Dublin, £6,000 damages for personal injuries against Dublin Corporation which admitted liability for the faulty signal.
Ms Murphy told her counsel, Mr Mel Christle, that her right arm went numb after the shock. She reported the defective signal to the Garda and went to hospital where she was treated for acute muscle spasm. She said the pain and numbness cleared up after a few days butt she went to see her own doctor after she dropped a teapot and cup during a "shooting pain" spasm in her arm.
Prof Anthony Clery, who examined Ms Murphy on behalf of Dublin Corporation, described the injury as uncomplicated and minor. In a medical report to the court he said current symptoms were "most likely to continue until litigation matters have been concluded".
Judge Kenny granted Ms Patricia Moran, for the corporation, a stay in the event of an appeal to the High Court on condition Ms Murphy be immediately paid out £3,000 for her injuries.