Limerick teen awarded €31k in damages for contact burn at respite centre

A YOUNG Limerick man who suffers from a number of intellectual disabilities has been awarded more than €30,000 in damages arising from an incident while he was in temporary respite care.

Limerick Circuit Court heard the now nineteen-year-old sustained a contact burn to the back of one of his hands when he was left unsupervised at a facility operated by the Daughters of Charity.

While the incident happened in December 2007, legal proceedings were not initiated until last year.

Through his mother, the teenager, who was aged nine when the incident happened, lodged a claim with the Injuries Board which recommended an award of €30,000.

Making an ex-parte application, Elaine Power BL, representing the plaintiff, said she was recommending the offer to the court.

She told Judge Tom O’Donnell her client sustained a painful burn and that he still has a small scar on the back of his hand.

The barrister said while he did suffer a “minor cosmetic deformity” it doesn't interfere with his day-to-day living.

After the judge indicated he was willing to approve the offer, Ms Power asked that the monies be paid out to the young man's mother.

She said her client is medically unfit to manage his own affairs as he suffers from Down Syndrome and autism. He also suffers from epilepsy and developmental delays.

In her evidence to the court, the teenager’s mother gave a sworn undertaking to only use the monies for the benefit of her son.

Noting her undertaking, Judge O’Donnell formally approved the settlement offer which totalled €31,158.