A judge on Wednesday rejected Ryanair’s €25,000 damages compensation to a 12-year-old child who was burned on a flight from Lourdes little over five years ago, citing insufficiency, reports Breaking News.
Judge Michael Walsh was informed by Barrister Darach MacNamara, who represented Sienna Darcy in the Circuit Civil Court, that “a piping hot meal including oil and sauce” had spilt on her left hand.
In her €60,000 damages claim, Sienna, who filed the lawsuit through her mother Aideen Darcy of Oscar Square, Dublin 8, claimed that cabin crew had served her a hot pasta dish on what she said was an unstable extensible table, reports Breaking News.
Judge Walsh was informed by Mr. MacNamara, who represented Brian McGrane Solicitors, that culpability was no longer a factor in the case and that the court should deny Ryanair’s offer of €2,610 in special damages and €22,390 in general damages.
According to him, the tragedy occurred on July 12, 2019, while Sienna, who was seven at the time, was travelling back to Dublin with her mother on a Ryanair aircraft from Lourdes, reports Breaking News.
“Very hot pasta spilled on her left hand and caused her significant burns,” Mr MacNamara told the judge. “While her burns healed over time she had been psychologically impacted and there are three medical reports before the court,” reports Breaking News.
According to him, Sienna needed a lot of treatment in the form of counselling. He informed Judge Walsh that he believed a better offer would settle the matter if he was prepared to reject Ryanair’s approach.
Judge Walsh stated that Sienna had endured painful burns, trauma, and agony, and he agreed to reject the settlement offer, reports Breaking News.
In her affidavit, Aideen, Sienna’s mother, informed the court that the hot meal had spilt into her daughter’s lap from the table. She also requested that the court study two reports from consultant psychiatrist Blanaid Gavin and the medical report of Dylan Murray, a craniofacial cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon.
Ms. Darcy said that she had been negatively impacted by her daughter’s later response to the burns and scars on her hand, reports Breaking News.
She said Ryanair cabin crew had used cold water and cooling gel on her daughter’s burn after she screamed in agony.
Throughout the whole journey, her daughter had been crying and in terrible agony. Sienna was transported by ambulance to Temple Street Children’s Hospital upon her arrival in Dublin, where she received medical attention, reports Breaking News.
It was said that she had needed to visit the hospital on many times.
If Ryanair doesn’t make a larger settlement offer, Sienna’s petition will proceed to a full trial before a different court, reports Breaking News.
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