Courts

Girl broke nose after being lifted from seat on Funderland ride

Judge approves settlement of €12,500 and costs to girl who was injured on Jungle River ride

The Funderland show takes place annually at the RDS in Dublin. Photograph: Eric Luke
The Funderland show takes place annually at the RDS in Dublin. Photograph: Eric Luke
Ray Managh
Wed Feb 07 2024 - 13:27

A seven-year-old girl was lifted from her seat and crashed face-first into the back of a person sitting ahead of her in a fairground ride at the RDS, the Circuit Civil Court heard on Wednesday.

Barrister Matthew Jolley told Judge James O’Donoghue that Evie Healy had not been restrained by any safety harness when the accident happened at the Christmas/New Year Funderland show in Dublin on January 3rd 2020.

Evie, now aged 11, through her mother Margaret Healy, sued Limerick based William Bird Rollercoaster Limited for up to €60,000 damages for injuries to her nose.

Mr Jolley, who appeared with Bowler Geraghty Solicitors, told Judge O’Donoghue that Evie had not been secured in any way in the rear log or car of a Jungle River ride. She had just been holding on to a wet and slippery bar when the fairground ride, as intended, suddenly dropped.

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He said Evie, of Ceannt Fort, Mount Browne, Dublin, had been thrown up out of her seat and crashed with force face-first into the back of another joyrider sitting ahead of her. The following day at Crumlin children’s hospital an X-ray revealed she had broken her nose.

Mr Jolley said the defendant had conceded liability 100 per cent and had made a settlement offer of €12,500 and costs to Evie which he was recommending to the court.

He said Judge John O’Connor had earlier refused to approve a settlement offer of €7,500 and had sent the case forward for trial before another judge.

Mr Jolley said he was recommending the higher new offer which was approved by Judge O’Donoghue. The judge said he thought it was a very fair offer by the rollercoaster company.

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