Boy to get €30k after metal scooter fell on his head in Smyths Toys

His head wound had to be glued by staff in the accident and emergency department in Temple Street Children’s Hospital

Judge John O’Connor heard in the Circuit Civil Court that Smyths Toys had agreed to give Declan Maguire the €30,000 settlement for an injury he suffered in the company’s Blanchardstown Store. File photo: Pat Good

A 13-year-old schoolboy will have to wait for five years before he gets €30,000 in compensation.

Judge John O’Connor heard in the Circuit Civil Court that Smyths Toys had agreed to give Declan Maguire the €30,000 settlement for an injury he suffered in the company’s Blanchardstown Store.

Patrick O’Brien, counsel for Declan, of Rossan Court, Waterville, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, told the judge that the boy was examining, with his mother Margaret Maguire, what Santa might bring him on Christmas 2015.

“While they were in the store at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre another child, not connected with Declan or his mum, accidentally dislodged a metal scooter from an overhead shelf and it struck Declan on the head,” Mr O’Brien said.

Mr O’Brien, who appeared for Declan and his mum with Rory Quigley Solicitors, told the court the boy was only eight at the time and had to be taken to Temple Street Children’s Hospital where a head wound had to be glued by staff in the accident and emergency department before they discharged him with pain killers.

Judge O’Connor heard Declan had afterwards suffered with headaches and post traumatic migraines and it had been stated in a 2018 medical report that he had also suffered post-traumatic stress disorder.

“The teenager has made a full recovery and has been left with quite a small scar on his forehead,” Mr O’Brien said.

Judge O’Connor, who was told that Smyths Toys, which has its registered head office in Galway, had made a settlement offer of €30,000 which the boy’s legal team was recommending to the court.

Judge O’Connor, approving what he described as a very good settlement, directed that the money be paid into court until Declan is 18 on November 11, 2025.