A CRECHE owner bit a three-year-old child on the arm to teach him a lesson about biting other children, a judge heard yesterday.
Sandra Roche Lawlor’s teeth marks were visible for six days on the left arm of Eric Foy, Judge Jacqueline Linnane was told in the Circuit Civil Court.
Denise Brett, counsel for the child, who lives with his mother Debbie Doyle, at The Dale, Kingswood Heights, Tallaght, said Ms Roche Lawlor had offered €11,000 by way of settlement for assault and injury to Eric.
She said that Ms Roche Lawlor ran Little Tigers Creche, at Kingswood Heights, Tallaght, and Eric, who is now aged five, had been left with her in a babyminding capacity.
Ms Brett said that on January 20th, 2006, Eric had been subjected to a bite on his left arm by the creche owner in whose care Ms Doyle had entrusted her child.
Eric Foy and another child had been fighting for the same toy and Eric had bitten the other child on the arm. Ms Roche Lawlor had held Eric while biting his left arm.
Ms Brett, who handed the judge photographs of the bite marks, said Eric’s mother had, for the child’s sake, not wanted to make a major fuss of the incident and had dealt with the treatment of the injury at home.
She said the incident had not been mentioned to his family doctor until six weeks later when Eric had to attend her clinic for another reason. By that time the injury had effectively healed.
Judge Linnane said that she had no hesitation in approving the settlement of €11,000 and legal costs.
She said Eric’s mother had adopted a very sensible, caring and appropriate attitude in relation to how she had dealt with the matter.