Security guards dragged an eight-year-old boy to the ground and held him down for several minutes while accusing him of shoplifting, a Dublin court has been told.
The Circuit Court President, Mr Justice Smyth, described as "appalling" the behaviour of Delta Security staff towards Robert Michael O'Connor in Dublin's Ilac shopping centre three years ago.
Ms Marian Moylan, for the boy, said he had been walking between his mother and his aunt when he was grabbed by two security guards.
Robert, whose mother had sued on his behalf for assault and defamation, had been pushed to the floor and held down for several minutes while the security men accused him of shoplifting.
Mr Justice Smyth said neither the boy nor his family had received an apology at the time, but added that Delta Security Ltd, Foxrock Avenue, Foxrock, Co Dublin, had since admitted liability and was offering a settlement figure of £7,500 damages.
Mr Justice Smyth said that in the light of Mrs O'Connor's desire not to prolong the case, he would approve the settlement.