Injury Compensation News

A woman, who sustained facial cuts and broken teeth when she was attacked by her brother-in-law’s dog, is to receive 47,000 Euros compensation.

Catherine Masterson (47) from Lanesboro, County Longsford, was visiting her brother-in-law – Henry Masterson from Armthorpe, Doncaster – while he was on holiday near Knockcroghery in Roscommon in May 2008.

As she passed by his camper van, Henry Masterson’s dog – a Japanese Akita – leapt up at Catherine and knocked her to the floor. The dog started to maul at Catherine and bit her face and hand, leaving her with permanent scarring and five broken teeth.
It was only due to the intervention of Mr Masterson that her injuries were not worse, and it was later discovered that the chain restraining the dog had snapped when the dog first leapt at Catherine. Although liability for the attack was conceded by Mr Masterson, the case went to the High Court for assessment of damages.

At the High Court, Mr Justice Michael Peart heard that Mr Masterson had originally acquired the dog from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and it had never displayed behaviour to concern him that such an attack might happen.
Mr Masterson expressed remorse for the attack on his sister-in-law, and explained to the court that the dog had been returned to the RSPCA and subsequently put down.

Judge Peart also heard that, since the attack, Catherine has developed a fear of dogs and in announcing the compensation award of 47,000 Euros commented that she had sustained very serious injuries.

A young girl, who was bitten by a dog during a family holiday in Dublin, has had a compensation settlement of 5,500 euros approved in the Circuit Court by Mr. Justice Matthew Deery.
The court heard how Ciara Hill (12) of Lucan, County Dublin, was a guest at the Finnstown House Hotel, County Dublin in July 2007, when she was attacked and bitten by a dog owned by the hotel.
In the action against FTP Hotel Limited, Ciara was represented by her mother, who explained how her daughter – who was just eight years old at the time – was traumatised, shocked and upset by the incident.
Approving the compensation settlement, Mr. Justice Matthew Deery said that Ciara´s physical injuries had not been significant and that they had healed quickly.
All settlements involving children under the age of 18 years have to be approved in court before payment can be paid, even when a settlement agreement has been previously reached by the claimant and the defendant. The type of court which hears the case will depend on the value of the compensation.

Clive Haevey of Slane, County Meath, has been awarded €32,000 for injuries sustained when a dog ran out in front of his motorbike, causing him to crash. Mr Heavey was knocked unconscious and sustained two fractures to his skull.  The accident happened in March 1998 outside the Grangegeeth pub in Courty Meath.
The dog was a cross between an Alsatian and a Labrador.

The lawsuit for negligence and breach of duty claimed that the dog owner, Richard McKenna, had failed to control or supervise his dog and was not in compliance with the provisions of the 1986 Control of Dogs Act.

Mr Justice Kearns of the High Court heard the case and noted that while Mr Heavey had made a good recovery he had suffered a ‘very frightening experience”.

Two young children who witnessed a savage dog attack on their mother, Mrs. Bernadette O’Leary, are to receive €75,000 between them for trauma and shock as part of the overal settlement.   Mrs. O’Leary was staying in a relative’s house in Waterfall, Co Cork. Another relative was responsible for looking after three collie dogs in the back garden.

It was alleged that Mrs. O’Leary was attacked by the three dogs in the back garden, although the house owners claimed that O’Leary had been told to not use the back garden and was therefore tresspassing at the time.  It was claimed that the attack resulted in lip and arm injuries that were witnessed by two young children.  One of the children kept a part of Mrs. O’Leary’s lip on ice in the hope that it could be stitched back on.  The children were not injured in the incident but are to receive €75,000 between them for the trauma and shock of seeing their mother attacked.

There was no admission of liability with the settlement.