Dublin girl (9) awarded €76,000 damages after gate fell on her

A nine-year-old girl who broke her left leg when a gate collapsed on her has been awarded €76,000 damages against Dublin City Council.

Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke, considering last week that a previous settlement offer of €61,000 would not be sufficient to compensate Sophie Gannon, had adjourned the case to allow further talks between the parties.

Barrister George Maguire had told the court that in November 2011 Sophie had been playing with friends near the entrance gate to her home at North Clarence Street Flats, Summerhill, Dublin, when the incident happened.

The court had heard Sophie, who was six years old at the time, had climbed on the heavy metal gate when it came off its hinges and fell on her. She struck her head violently on the ground and remained pinned beneath the gate until the emergency services arrived and lifted it off her.

She was taken to the emgerency department of Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street in Dublin, where X-rays revealed a fracture of her left femur, which had needed to be operated on under general anaesthesia.

She had also suffered a deep cut to her thigh, which had developed a haematoma which had required evacuation under general anaesthesia.

The court was told Sophie would need to undergo several sessions of surgical procedures to try and improve the contour deformity of unpleasant scars on her leg. Through her father, Colin McHugh, she sued Dublin City Council for negligence and breach of duty.

Mr Maguire told the court that Dublin City Council, which disputed liability, had made an increased settlement offer of €76,000, which Judge Groarke approved.