Girl, 3, survives balcony fall at wedding reception

THE Health and Safety Authority is investigating an accident in which a 3-year-old girl fell almost 16 feet from a hotel balcony during wedding celebrations.

Eva Sweeney, a cousin of the bride, fell from a first-floor balcony railing onto a sloping tiled roof and tumbled down onto concrete paving.

The incident occurred as a band was playing the Ostan Hotel, Gweedore, Co Donegal.

The wedding took place on Saturday, August 6, and Eva was taken first to Letterkenny General Hospital and, the following day, to Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin.

Eva spent five days in hospital recovering from bruising to her head and body, two black eyes and an injured shoulder.

Parents Sarah and Joe, both 35, who live in Kings Park, Glasgow, claim they are preparing to take legal action against the hotel.

Joe said: “It was so frightening. Eva’s an amazing wee girl. She’s lucky to be alive.”

Her uncle, Simon Murphy, flew from Glasgow to visit her. He said: “I saw her sitting up in the hospital with two black eyes but she was still smiling.”

One of the owners, chef Charles Boyle, issued a statement saying it was the first time in 41 years there was an accident at the hotel.

He said: “No hotel staff witnessed the incident but we understand the child crawled through the barrier and fell on to a smaller sloping roof and then fell a further eight feet to the ground.”

A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Authority said it is investigating the incident.