A four-year-old girl was out of sight in a ball pool when another child jumped on top of her, injuring her head, a judge heard today.
Zofia Drwal's mother Dagmara had left her daughter in the ball pool in a crèche in Ikea, St Margaret’s Road, Ballymun, while she did her shopping, Judge John O’Connor was told in the Circuit Civil Court.
"Zofia had dived under the balls and could not be seen when the second child jumped on top of her," barrister Eileen McAuley said. "The ball pool was unsupervised at the time."
The child, who was just over four years old, had, through her mother, sued Ikea Ireland Ltd and Tinies UK Limited, responsible for the operation of the crèche.
Ms McAuley, who appeared with Maguire McClafferty Solicitors, told the court Zofia had immediately developed a haematoma above her left eyelid and had been treated by the store’s first aid staff who applied an ice pack to the injury.
Judge O’Connor heard that Zofia, from Ashbourne, Co Meath, had been taken to the accident and emergency department of Temple Street Children’s Hospital for examination and treatment to abrasions on the side of her head.
Ms McAuley said the child had also developed a psychological reaction to the incident in that for some time she had become reluctant to join in with playgroups.
Her injuries had fully resolved shortly afterwards.
Judge O’Connor approved a settlement offer of €12,600 for Zofia which had been made on behalf of both defendants.
