Irish boy who burned arm on gas heater while on holiday awarded €10,000

Letterkenny Circuit Court in Co Donegal

A young Co Donegal boy who burned his arm while holidaying with his family in France has been awarded €10,000.

The boy, now aged seven, was almost two at the time of the incident.

The child and his parents appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court where the court heard an offer had been made to the boy’s family.

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The court heard the boy was staying at a Eurocamp cabin with his family in Brittany on June 17, 2018.

The boy was running around the cabin when he rubbed his arm off a gas heater and suffered a burn.

The family returned from holiday and attended their local GP, Dr Jarlath Duffy.

Dr Duffy treated the wound and prescribed cream for the burn.

The court was told that the boy returned to Dr Duffy a year later for an update and an examination of the burn showed a faint discolouration of the scarred area.

However, the examination also showed the child had a full grip using his left hand, had a full range of elbow extension and there were no psychological issues.

Barrister for the young boy and his family, Mr Peter Nolan, told Judge John Aylmer that there were no specific monetary guidelines for compensation in the case of burns.

Mr Nolan said there was a concern that liability could be apportioned to the parents as contributory negligence had been alleged by the other side.

“Rather than risk any order, it would be wise to accept the offer,” Mr Nolan said.

Judge Aylmer said it was fortunate that the recovery of the boy has been ‘excellent’ and recommended the acceptance of €10,000.

However, he said he and his client were happy with the offer saying there was no residual scarring.

Judge Aylmer said he was happy to recommend the offer which included circuit court costs.

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