Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Dublin has agreed to pay more than €8,000 to a teenage girl who was traumatised by an infestation of ants in her hospital bed more than four years ago.
However, the hospital could not say last night if it was satisfied that its premises would in future be completely ant-free, despite having taken enhanced preventative measures since the occurrence of the incidents complained of.
The Circuit Civil Court heard yesterday that when the mother of Cara Byrne visited her daughter, who is now 13, at the hospital in Crumlin on March 19th 1998, she had found her daughter's bed, locker and eating utensils infested with ants.
Ms Esther Earley, counsel for the Co Wicklow teenager, said that a second infestation of ants in her bed, locker, drinking cup and a can of Coke she had been drinking, was discovered six days later.
She told the court that Cara Byrne, from Aughrim, had been admitted to the hospital for treatment in March 1998, and on both occasions referred to she had been lying in bed when the infestations were discovered.
Ms Earley said that the girl, who was eight years old at the time of the incidents, had not suffered any physical injuries, but had been traumatised as a result of shock and distress.
She had afterwards been unable to drink from a can and had become nervous and frightened of all insects. Her local doctor had been concerned that she may have developed entomophobia - a fear of insects.
Ms Earley told the President of the Circuit Court, Mr Justice Esmond Smyth, that it was now more than four years since the incidents, and Cara Byrne had made a full, if prolonged, recovery. She said that the hospital authorities had proffered a "without prejudice" settlement of €8,250, and she recommended its approval by the court. Mr Justice Smyth approved the settlement.
A hospital spokeswoman said last night that, in the aftermath of the incidents, it had upgraded its preventative contract with an external company to make it more comprehensive. The hospital also had an infection control protocol under which the appearance of an ant would be followed by the evacuation of patients and the sterilisation of rooms.
The spokeswoman explained that ants were attracted to the continuous heat generated by the hospital and were "seasonal", occurring from about March and continuing through the summer months.
Asked if the hospital was satisfied that such an incident would not recur, the spokeswoman said: "Ants can come into any building at any time, no matter how many preventative measures we take, but we are immediately and promptly acting on it."
The Byrne family could not be contacted for comment.