Boy settles for €40k after bollard fell on hand

Accident occurred at the GAA National Sports Campus in Abbottstown

Sebastian Ganly had, through his mother Anne Rautkoski, sued the GAA because the accident took place at the GAA National Sports Campus at Abbotstown in Dublin.

A young boy who suffered a severe crush injury to his thumb when a pavement bollard in a sports campus fell on top of his hand has settled a High Court action for €40,000.

Sebastian Ganly was only four years of age when the accident occurred at the GAA National Sports Campus, Abbottstown, Dublin on March 16, 2019.

His counsel Frank Crean told the court that the boy had been watching a match with his family and was on the way to the clubhouse afterwards when the accident happened.

Counsel said Sebastian was walking ahead of his father on a path when he touched the bollard and it fell. The boy was taken to hospital and had to have surgery on his left thumb which had a fracture.

Mr Crean said Sebastian had a number of follow-up visits and is left with a small surgical scar but will not be left with any lifelong problems.

He said it was their case that the bollard was allegedly defective.

Sebastian Ganly, who is now 11, from Malahide, Dublin, had, through his mother Anne Rautkoski, sued the GAA because the accident took place at the GAA National Sports Campus at Abbotstown in Dublin, along with the supplier of the bollard GH Pittman Ltd, with offices at Athy Business, Campus, Athy,Co Kildare; AGK Ltd which was responsible for the bollard installation and which has offices at Barrowside Business Park, Carlow town; and Schake GMBH of Hagen, Germany, which was responsible for the design and manufacture of the bollard.

Mr Justice Coffey was told that the settlement and costs were against Schake GMBH only and the case could be struck out against the others.

The settlement is without an admission of liability.

In the proceedings, it was claimed against Schake GMBH that there was a failure to take reasonable steps to ensure that the bollard was free from faults and defects and an alleged failure to ensure that the bollard would not topple causing the boy harm.

All of the claims were denied.

Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said the offer was fair and reasonable and he noted the litigation risk in the case.