A FIVE-YEAR-OLD schoolboy, who lacerated his left arm on a pull-out bed in a Dublin hotel, has been awarded €18,000 damages in the Circuit Civil Court.

Barrister Conor Kearney told the court that in July 2014, Adam Healy was staying with his parents at the Castleknock Hotel & Country Club, Porterstown Road, Castleknock, when the incident happened.

Mr Kearney today said that Adam, who was three-and-a-half-year-old at the time, stumbled and fell against the exposed metal mechanism of the bed, lacerating his elbow.

Adam had been taken to the Emergency Department of Children’s University Hospital in Dublin, where the laceration was stitched. He had been discharged the same day.

Mr Kearney told Circuit Court President, Mr Justice Raymond Groarke, that Adam’s stitches were removed after a few weeks. The wound had left a permanent scar on his elbow, which had been painful for some time.

Through his mother Kathryn Healy, of Hillcrest Park, Glasnevin, Dublin, Adam sued Castleknock Hotel Limited, with a registered address at Lake Drive, Citywest Business Centre, Citywest, Dublin, for negligence.

The court heard that the hotel had made an €18,000 damages settlement offer. Counsel said that Adam was not guaranteed to succeed if his claim went for a full trial.

Mr Kearney, who appeared with Tony Taaffe & Co solicitors, said liability would be an issue and the bed would need to be examined by engineers.

Judge Groarke, after examining Adam’s scar, said he was satisfied to approve the offer.