TD’s son gets head trapped in revolving Dáil door
The boy suffered bleeding ears and bruising before the door was eventually prised open by security guards.
Tom Barry, a Fine Gael TD representing the Cork East constituency, said he was shocked and upset and he didn’t want to see the same thing happen to another child.
He explained that his son, Ronan, had followed his 11-year-old sister, Fiona, into the revolving door when the accident happened.
“He dashed in after her and his head got trapped between the door and the frame. Other people inside were shocked and some of them were screaming, they were in the horrors,” Mr Barry said.
“Security people managed to prise open the door, but Ronan’s ears were bleeding and bruised as a result. Fortunately he’s fine now and all that’s bruised is his ego. But I would shudder to think what damage could have been done if it was a toddler. A seven-year-old is quite robust, but a toddler would have a much thinner skull,” the deputy added.
Mr Barry said he reported the matter to the Dáil’s Superintendent and is demanding that something be done about it.
He said he understood that it was a security door but it should have been fitted with sensors which would automatically operate a release mechanism it if somebody became trapped, especially somebody small.
“I think they should put in the type of doors that they have in supermarkets that operate by sensor. The door they have is simply dangerous, especially to children,” he said.
He said the incident happened on his first day in the Dáil.
The TD, who lives in Killavullen, near Mallow, said he wouldn’t let the matter rest and would, if necessary, put down a formal motion to have all doors at Leinster House checked for safety.
