A 17-year-old student and goalkeeper who lacerated her left knee on broken glass during a football match has been awarded €30,000 damages in the Circuit Civil Court.
Barrister Ivan Daly told the court the incident happened in June 2012 as Rhian Holohan was playing for Kentstown Rovers FC against Ayrfield United FC in a Dublin Womens' Soccer League match.
Mr Daly said Ms Holohan had dived in an attempt to save a ball when she cut her knee with a piece of broken glass which was on the pitch at Ayrfield, Coolock, Dublin. The match had been stopped and First Aid was applied at the scene.
Circuit Court president Mr Justice Raymond Groarke heard Ms Holohan was taken to the A&E Department of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Co Louth, where her laceration was cleansed and sutured under anaesthetic.
Ms Holohan, of Dun an Samhradh, Kentstown, Co Meath, who was 15 years old at the time, had needed to use crutches for several weeks and had suffered from pain and swelling in her knee.
Unable to play
The court heard she had been unable to play football for several months. The wound had left a permanent visible one-and-a-half centimetre circular scar on her knee, which she was conscious of.
Through her mother Anita Holohan, she sued Dublin City Council, the Trustees of Dublin Womens' Soccer League and the Trustees of Ayrfield United FC.
A previous settlement offer of €22,000 had been refused by Judge Groarke.
On Tuesday, Mr Daly said that following further talks between the parties, an increased offer of €30,000 had been made and he was recommending acceptance of it to the court. Judge Groarke approved it.
Judge Groarke also approved an increased settlement offer of €35,000 in the case of Jack Griffin, who fractured his nose while playing dodgeball at a summer camp. A previous offer of €28,000 had been refused by Judge Groarke.
Barrister Conor Kearney said Jack (10) was attending “Camp Crunch” at Crunch Fitness, Westmanstown, Dublin, when a goalpost fell down and struck him on his nose and above his left eye.
Through his mother, he sued Crunch Fitness Premier Ltd, with a registered office at c/o Byrne Moreau Connell, Unit 2 Harmony Court, Harmony Row, Dublin, for negligence.