€12k damages over lipstick allergy

A six-year-old boy who developed an allergic reaction to his mother’s lipstick has been awarded €12,000 damages in the Circuit Civil Court.

Barrister Maria Watson, counsel for the child, who is not being identified to avoid peer bullying, told the circuit court president, Mr Justice Raymond Groarke, that when he was only three his mother painted the first initial of his name on his forehead with her lipstick.

Ms Watson said the letter remained on the child’s forehead for about two hours before his mother attempted to wash it off and was unable to do so. She found it had caused a mark and injury to her son’s skin.