Girl burned by ‘excessively hot soup’ at creche awarded €17,500

A girl who suffered second degree burns to her face after she was served “excessively hot soup” while attending a creche four years ago, has been awarded €17,500 damages in the Circuit Civil Court.

Barrister Conor Kearney said Emily Murphy (now six) was attending the Nest Childcare, Drumcondra Road Upper, Dublin, when she was given a beaker containing the soup.

Mr Kearney said Emily, who was one-and-a-half-years-old at the time, suffered burns to her mouth and chin when she tried to drink the soup. A cold compress had been immediately applied to her burns by creche staff.

The court heard that Emily was then taken to the A&E Department of Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street, where her burns were dressed.

Counsel said the burns had left a small two-millimetre pock mark on Emily’s chin which was only visible on close examination. He said the injured area becomes red and flushed in cold weather.

Emily, through her mother Laura Murphy, of Glasnevin Downs, Glasnevin, sued creche owner Bowers Childcare Limited for negligence.

Mr Kearney told Judge Karen Fergus that the defendant had made a €17,500 settlement offer which he recommended to the court. The judge approved it.