Many people on social media are discussing whether they think it was too little or too much of an award for the 4-yr-old to receive.
A 4-yr-old boy, described as having a severe cut on his chin and neck, waited over eight hours in the accident department of Crumlin Children’s Hospital before being attended to by a junior doctor, a court heard, reports RTE.
Barrister Neil Rafter informed Judge Christopher Callan in the Circuit Civil Court that the junior doctor assessed the injury as so serious that Alun Lang and his mother would need to wait even longer to see a more senior physician.
On October 26, 2017, Alun was riding a plastic toy car at a crèche when a fellow child, also using his feet to move an identical toy car, collided with him, Mr. Rafter recounted in court, reports RTE.
“A piece from one of the toy cars struck Alun on his chin and neck, resulting in a laceration longer than an inch,” he explained, reports RTE.
Now 11 years old, Alun, through his mother Pei (also known as Emma) Bing, is suing Park Academy Childcare, located at Beacon Court, Bracken Road, Sandyford, Dublin, for €60,000 in damages for personal injuries, claiming negligence on the crèche’s part.
Ms. Bing, residing on Rathdown Terrace, Sandyford Road, Dublin 16, stated in an affidavit to Judge Callan that her son has been left with a 3cm scar that she fears may cause him shame in the future.
Mr. Rafter, representing him alongside Padraig Murphy Solicitors, noted that seven years after the incident, Alun remains fearful of physical contact sports like football and prefers activities such as swimming and table tennis, reports RTE.
The scar has a slight indentation, and a plastic surgeon has determined that surgical intervention would not improve it.
Counsel mentioned that liability was not disputed, and Park Academy Childcare Limited had offered Alun a settlement of €47,500, which he recommended to the court.
Taking into account the size and placement of the scar, he believed that the offer was a suitable one, reports RTE.
Judge Callan approved the settlement along with costs, stating that it was a fair resolution and expressed regret that Alun had to abandon football.
The court learned that when an ambulance was called to the crèche, Alun was very frightened about getting in, prompting his mother to drive him to Crumlin Children’s Hospital instead.
His injury was treated and secured using surgical paper sutures, reports RTE.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
