An eight year old girl has had her settlement of €26K approved by a judge at Dublin’s Circuit Civil Court. Zarabelle O’Neill McAllorum, then aged 6, was at school at Gaelscoil Inse Choir, Islandbridge, Dublin when a fire door was closed on her hand by another pupil.
Judge John O’Connor heard that the girl had sued the school and the Department of Education and Skills, through her mother Fiona O’Neill, on the grounds of negligence. After the incident with the fire door, Zarabelle had been taken to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin.
7 months after the accident, in June 2019, doctors decided that one of Zarabelle’s fingernails should be removed in order to aid her recovery. The fingernail was removed under general anaesthetic.
Fran Rooney, representing Zarabelle, told the court that after the removal of the fingernail, Zarabelle developed an infection and was treated with a course of antibiotics. She has since made a full recovery.
An initial settlement offer of €20,000 was rejected and Judge O’Connor congratulated Mr Rooney on gaining such an improved compensation amount.
