At the Circuit Civil Court. Judge Justice John O’Connor has given his approval for a school injury compensation settlement of €26,000 for an eight-year-old, Fran Rooney, who injured her left ring finger when it was crushed by a fire escape door which shut on top of it accidentally.
Representing Zarabelle O’Neill McAllorum at the Circuit Civil Court, Counsel Fran Rooney informed the judge that she, Fran, was just six years of age when the incident in question occurred at her school. The action was being taken against the Department of Education and Skills on the grounds of negligence in relation to the maintenance of the door at Gaelscoil Inse Choir, Islandbridge, Dublin, just over two years ago in 2018.
Appearing with B&P Byrne Solicitors, Rooney informed the presiding Judge John O’Connor that Zarabelle was taking the personal injury legal compensation action, via her mother Fiona O’Neill, against the Department of Education and Skills. He detailed the specific events of the accident in which Zarabelle injured her left ring finger and lost the nail from it.
He informed the judge that the fire escape door had been shut on her hand by a different student. It quickly became apparent that Zarabelle’s finger had been seriously injured and she was taken to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin to have the ailment treated medically.
Seven months after the incident, in june 2019, her medical doctors made a diagnosis decreeing that she still had not made adequate progress in her rehabilitation. Due to this she underwent a surgical procedure to have her left ring finger nail removed while she was placed under general anaesthetic. Shortly after this surgical procedure, according to Mr Rooney, Zarabelle developed a viral infection and had to be medically treated with a course of antibiotics. The Judge was informed that she has now made a full recovery from the injuries that she sustained.
An earlier settlement offer of €20,000 had been rejected by Zarabelle’s team of legal representatives. Judge O’Connor was informed that this has been rejected. The defendant’s returned with an higher compensation settlement offer of €26,000.
Judge O’Connor gace his approval for this and praised Mr Rooney for achieving the higher compensation offer.