Young Girl awarded €40,000.00 for injury in slip and fall in creche

A nine year old schoolgirl who cut her forehead when she fell in a Dublin creche has been awarded €40,000 damages in the Circuit Civil Court.

Her barrister told the court that Blathnaid Morrison was almost two years old when the accident happened in November 2008 at Dublin West Childcare & Learning Services creche, of Bawnogue Enterprise Centre, Bawnogue Road, Clondalkin. Blathnaid had been playing when she fell and hit the ground, cutting her forehead and was taken to Tallaght Hospital by her mother, Linda Morrison and was very distressed, shocked and upset. Her wound had been cleaned and repaired with steri-strips, a type of bandage used in place of stitches but the wound had left a permanent one-centimetre scar on her forehead.

The creche were sued for for negligence through her mother who claimed the creche had failed to provide adequate supervision. The court was informed that the Personal Injuries Assessment Board had valued the damages at €35,000, and the creche had accepted its assessment.

Judge Groarke requested an increased offer, as the scar was permanent and visible and following talks between the parties, the defendant’s insurer had “reluctantly” agreed to an increased €40,000 damages offer.

Judge Groarke said he was satisfied it was a very good offer and approved it.