40,000 Euros Compensation Awarded for Nightclub Bite Injury

A nightclub patron, who had the top of his ear bitten off in an unprovoked dancefloor attack, has been awarded 40,000 Euros compensation against the owners of the nightclub. Darren Curneen (28) of Clondalkin, County Dublin, had visited the Sidewalk Night Club, Upper O’Connell Street, Dublin, on February 3rd 2002 and was socialising with friends on the dance floor, when he felt a sharp pain from behind. He placed his hand up to his ear and discovered that it was covered in blood and part of the ear was missing. Darren´s attacker was later arrested with blood on his lips and face but, as Mr Justice Peter Charleton heard at the High Court, this had not been an isolated incident as Darren´s attacker had previously bitten another patron´s ear just a few minutes beforehand.
After seeking legal advice, Darren sued Lacefield Taverns Ltd, trading as Sidewalk Night Club, claiming that they owed a duty of care towards him as a patron of their premises and, as the company declined to be represented in court, the case went undefended. Assessing the level of damages to be awarded, Mr Justice Peter Charleton took into account that Darren had suffered pain in the ear for four years after the attack and, although he had been offered plastic surgery to repair the damage, there were no guarantees that any treatment would repair the permanent disfigurement of the ear. When he announced the award of 40,000 Euros the judge added that it was clear the nightclub had a duty of care to those on the premises, and they should have dealt with the attacker and protected their patrons.