Boy, 6, receives €30k after cutting finger on gas fire

A six-year-old boy who seriously lacerated his finger on a gas fire in his home was yesterday awarded €30,000 damages against B&Q Ireland Limited and Focal Point Fires plc.

Barrister Tracy Ennis Faherty told Judge James O’Donohoe in the Circuit Civil Court that Tadhg Sinammon Hanafin injured himself on the wall-mounted fire while playing in the living room.

Ms Ennis Faherty, who appeared for Tadhg with Andrea Sullivan of Hussey Fraser Solicitors, said that, in November 2011, when Tadhg was only 16 months old, he cut a finger on a sharp edge on the fire.

She said he had placed his right hand on the edge of the gas fire and sustained a cut to his hand at the base of his middle finger, severing two tendons.

Ms Ennis Faherty told Judge O’Donohoe that Tadhg had been taken to the A&E Department of Crumlin Hospital, where he was detained.

He was found to have a 100% division of one tendon, and damage to another and a nerve and artery. She told the court that medical reports revealed that both tendons and the nerve were repaired under general anaesthesia before he was discharged with his full right arm in a cast, which he had to wear for six weeks.

Tadhg sued B&Q Ireland Limited and Focal Point Fires, Frampton St, London, through his father Kevin Hanafin. His parents had been concerned about the cosmetic appearance of scars on his fingers, but reported now that he uses his hand for all functions without difficulty or pain.

David O’Donovan, consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon, had informed the court that from a cosmetic view, the scars were likely to improve over the next several years and, when fully matured, he was not likely to have any great significant cosmetic impact.

Functionally, Tadhg had made an excellent recovery.

Ms Ennis Faherty told Judge O’Donohoe that the defendants had made Tadhg a settlement offer of €30,000 and she said she was recommending that the court approve of it.

Having viewed Tadhg’s hand during a discussion of what Santa was bringing him for christmas, Judge O’Donohoe said that while there was some disfigurement, he thought the offer was adequate and he approved the settlement.