Ray Managh
A six-year-old girl, who broke her right elbow when thrown from a horse, was offered €40,000 damages for personal injuries by the equestrian centre where the accident happened, a court heard today.
Judge John O’Connor was told in the Circuit Civil Court that Lily Morgan was taking supervised riding lessons at the Fettercairn Horseriding Centre, Tallaght, Dublin 24, when the horse suddenly bolted.
Barrister Ben O’Connor said Lily, of Grace Park Road, Whitehall, Dublin 9, had been thrown to the ground from the horse and broke her elbow.
Hospital
She had been taken to Our Lady’s University Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin, where K-Wires had been fixed to the fracture in a surgical procedure under general anaesthetic.
Counsel said Lily had been detained in hospital for three days and missed school for three weeks. She had three repeat appointments at the fracture clinic before the K-Wires had been removed and had undergone a number of physiotherapy sessions.
Lily, through her aunt Ruth Morgan, sued Fettercairn Youth Horse Project Company, Fettercairn road, Tallaght.
Mr O’Connor, who appeared with O’Shea-Legal Solicitors, said the defendant company had offered a settlement of €40,000 which he was recommending to the court.
Judge O’Connor, approving what he described as a good settlement, said the child had suffered a frightening and painful experience and fortunately had made a full recovery.