Woman and girl suffer injuries after funfair fall

A WOMAN and a young girl thrown at high speed from an amusement ride were recovering yesterday after the accident at a Dublin fair.

It emerged yesterday an inspector authorised by the Department of Environment had pre-approved the amusement rides before the fair began earlier this month.

Gardaí said they were keeping an open mind into the incident after hiring an engineer to investigate its cause. The Health and Safety Authority though ruled out its own investigation saying the accident was “not work related”.

The accident occurred at about 8.15pm on Monday when a 13-year-old girl and a woman, 29, were flung from their carriage at the funfair at Millennium Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin.

Both were attending the last night of the two-week fair.

Gardaí and emergency services rushed to the scene after the incident. The ride was also closed down and officers remained on site throughout the night.

While the young girl was released with minor bruising after treatment at Temple Street Hospital, the second female was still being treated at Blanchardstown Hospital with serious leg injuries last night.

She received serious injuries, including broken bones and lacerations to the right side of her body and was described as still in shock and pain yesterday.

Gardaí appealed for witnesses to the amusement ride accident to contact them on 01 6667000. It is thought both females fell from the ‘Superbowl’, a waltzer-type ride where a number of carriages spin individually while rotating around a central point. Gardaí say they were thrown out of a carriage at high speed.

An engineer authorised by the Department of Environment checked all structural, electrical and mechanical equipment, and the site layout, before the carnival opened to the public on September 6.

Investigating officers collected all inspections for the amusement facility and details of its licence through Fingal County Council.

However, the council was satisfied with the original inspection carried out on the funfair’s machinery last night.

Gardaí also said the carriage had not broken away from the ride and the two females had fallen out of it.

The funfair is operated by a Co Kildare-based company called Funfest Ltd.

Fingal County Council said the company had operated the funfair since 2004 at Blanchardstown.

“As part of the operating permission, Funfest is required to provide valid safety certification for all equipment prior to setting up the fairground. The council is satisfied that the safety certificate for the equipment in question is valid,” read a council statement.