Child awarded damages over treatment at Malahide crèche

A four-year-old child who was in one of the crèches featured in an RTÉ programme about the mistreatment of children has been awarded €18,000 damages after her case was settled.

The Circuit Civil Court heard the settlement offer had been made by The Links Crèche & Montessori without admission of liability.

Barrister Kevin D’Arcy had told the court Sophie Campbell’s behaviour had changed during the six months that she attended the crèche at Abington Wood, Malahide, Co Dublin.

Mr D’Arcy said Sophie was two years old when she first attended the crèche in December 2012. She had left the crèche after the airing of the RTÉ Prime Time Investigates programme, which exposed the treatment of children at several crèches.

The court heard that before the programme was aired, her father Stephen Campbell had attended at RTÉ studios and had been shown footage which included Sophie.

Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke was told that in one incident, the toddler could be seen witnessing another child being shouted at. In another incident, Sophie had been dealt with dismissively and roughly by crèche staff.

Counsel said Sophie’s behaviour while attending the crèche had been unusually loud, irritable and unsettled. She had been reluctant to attend the crèche.

He said a medical report indicated Sophie’s irritability could be due to the alleged traumatic events she had witnessed and experienced.

Sophie's parents, Stephen and Susan Campbell, had been concerned and had changed her crèche.

The court was told Sophie had settled down since she attended the new crèche.

Through her father, Stephen, of Seabury Close, Malahide, Co Dublin, Sophie sued The Links Childcare Ltd, which trades as The Links Crèche & Montessori.

Mr D’Arcy today told the court that an €18,000 out of court settlement offer had been made by the defendant, which Mr Justice Groarke approved.