A personal injury* claim taken on behalf of a minor child who was injured when she was caused to fall in a crèche in located RTE, has settled for €55,000.

Initially, an offer of €30,000 was made to settle the injury claim however when this was put to the President of the Circuit Court, Mr Justice Raymond Groarke, he rejected this offer as being too low as she would have a permanent scar on her forehead. The parties were advised to continue settlement talks and appear before the Judge a week later wherein he was advised of and ultimately accepted, the increased offer of €55,000.

The mother of the child sued the owners of the crèche, on behalf of her minor daughter. The court was told that the child was only three when she caused to fall over another child and lacerated her forehead on a table in the toddlers' room. The injured child was taken to Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin, Dublin, where the cut was repaired with tissue adhesive.

The court was told that the child would be left with a permanent one and a half centimetre scar on the top right hand side of her forehead. It was claimed that there had been more children than usual in the crèche on the day of the accident however this was being disputed by the crèche’s insurance company.

When the matter came before Mr Justice Raymond Groarke again following his rejection of the first offer, he was otld that following talks between the parties, the initial offer of €30,000 had been increased by €25,000 to €55,000. This increased offer was recommend by the barrister for the minor child and the Judge accepted this offer.

*In contentious business a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.