Parents in apartments need to be ‘vigilant’

A coroner has warned parents and landlords to be “acutely aware” of the danger of children falling from high-rise buildings.

Brian Farrell was speaking at the inquest into the death of 15-month-old Nikola Batare, who died on Aug 3 after she fell from the top floor of the Cross Guns Quay apartments in Phibsboro, Dublin 7. She died as a result of head injuries.

Returning a verdict of death by misadventure, Dr Farrell said this is the “third or fourth” inquest in recent years where a child has fallen from an apartment block. “Landlords of tenants with children and, indeed, parents need to be acutely aware of the dangers to children of windows that are not secure or childproofed,” said Dr Farrell.