Woman suing salon ‘should not have been given treatment’

THE manager of a hair salon being sued by a client whose hair fell out after a treatment told the High Court yesterday she should not have been given the treatment.

Aileen Dunleavy, a 40-year-old painter from Salthill, Galway, has brought an action for damages against Hair Republic, Galway, following a colouring treatment she received at the salon in March 2007.

Ms Dunleavy claims her hair was damaged and subsequently fell out after the treatment.

Mark Breen, the manager of Hair Republic on the day of Ms Dunleavy’s treatment, told his counsel, Marcus F Daly SC, that the treatment should not have been carried out because Ms Dunleavy had had a similar treatment some 27 days earlier.

While her hair has since grown back, Ms Dunleavy claims that she suffered personal injury and loss, and that the incident adversely affected both her working and her social life.

Mr Breen said nothing like this had happened before or since at the salon. He told the court that he treated her on three occasions after the incident.

Under cross-examination, Mr Breen told the court he was told by the qualified stylist, who has since moved to Australia, and who carried out the colouring treatment that Ms Dunleavy had insisted on having the procedure done.

Ms Dunleavy claims the defendant was negligent and in breach of care of duty towards her.

The defendant is pleading contributory negligence, claiming that Ms Dunleavy insisted on having the treatment.

The defendant also further rejects Ms Dunleavy’s claim that she suffered psychological injuries as a result of the incident. Evidence was given that Ms Dunleavy had played in a number of golf outings, one of which was sponsored by a hair salon, following the incident.

Following the conclusion of submissions yesterday, Mr Justice Iarflaith Ó Neill said he would give his decision today.