Drunken youths' party costs Dublin council €20k after child injured
Drunken parties in public parks are causing major financial hangovers for local authorities, a court heard today.
Barrister Eileen McAuley told the Circuit Civil Court that a two-year-old girl who fell on glass in the grass in Brickfield Public Park in Drimnagh, Dublin, was left with a jagged scar just below her left knee.
Judge Matthew Deery heard that little Croi Robinson was running towards the childrens’ slide on February 7, 2011, when she fell.
Ms McAuley said she had to be rushed to Crumlin Children’s Hospital where she was immediately taken to theatre to have the wound cleaned and stitched under general anesthesia.
She said that while the now four-year-old girl had made a full recovery she had suffered a deep laceration to her left knee and had been left with a permanent one inch long scar which, although she was currently not conscious of it, may require plastic surgery later.
Croi, of Crumlin Road, Dublin 12, sued Dublin City Council, the owners of the park, through her mother Theresa Robinson. She had been shocked and shaken by the accident.
Ms McAuley said Croi was in the toddlers’ swing area of the park and the glass from a broken bottle was hidden in grass.
She said the accident had happened on a Monday and it had transpired that youths had been drinking in the park over the weekend. Council staff had not carried out any cleaning prior to opening the park to the public.
Ms McAuley said local residents were aware of the park being used for drinks parties at weekends.
Judge Deery approved a €20,000 settlement and legal costs offer to Croi from Dublin City Council.
