Girl scarred after hitting head off crèche wall awarded €55,000

A five-year-old girl, who will be scarred for life after she struck her head against a wall in a crèche, has been awarded €55,000 damages in the Circuit Civil Court.

Barrister Robert Crowley told the court Ruth Reilly had been left unattended at Giraffe Childcare Crèche, Athlumney Wood, Johnstown, Navan, Co Meath, in October 2013 when she fell and struck her head.

Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke heard the girl, who was two years old at the time, suffered a deep laceration and bled heavily. An ambulance was called and after her wound was dressed on site, she was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, where it was stitched.

Ruth’s mother, Angela Reilly, said the wound had left a visible and permanent scar on her daughter’s forehead, and she was very conscious of it.

Through her father Seamus Reilly, of Swan View, Dublin Road, Navan, Co Meath, Ruth sued Giraffe Childcare Ltd, with a registered address at Adamstown Avenue, Castlegate, Adamstown, Lucan, Co Dublin, for negligence.

Mr Crowleytold the court liability had been admitted by the crèche.

Hearing that Ruth will be scarred for life, Judge Groarke refused to approve a €40,000 settlement offer by the defendant as he felt that it would not be enough to compensate her. The matter then proceeded as an assessment of damages only.

Judge Groarke, awarding Ruth €55,000 damages, said her scar was nasty and noticeable at a conversational distance.

He said that although he was not criticising the way the defendant had handled the case, in his view the €40,000 settlement offer did not meet the full value of the case.