The Zoological Society of Ireland has been told to pay €5,000 in charitable donations by Dublin District Court after a child was injured by an animal at the zoo in Phoenix Park.
The prosecution of the Zoological Society of Ireland was brought by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) after an investigation into a Tapir´s attack on a two-year old toddler and her mother which left the child injured by the animal at the zoo.
The incident happened on 8th August 2013, when an organised party of four adults, four children and a zoo-keeper entered the Brazilian tapir enclosure. While the party were inside the enclosure, one of the tapir´s became agitated and attacked the little girl.
The toddler was taken to Temple Street children´s hospital, where she underwent surgery on stomach and arm injuries. Her mother also received medical attention for injuries she sustained after trying to defend her child from being injured by the animal at the zoo.
The HSA investigation revealed that the visit to the tapir enclosure had been in contravention of a risk assessment conducted in 2006 which concluded that members of the public should not have access to the tapir enclosure. The HSA charged the Zoological Society of Ireland with a single breach of Section 19.4 of the 2005 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act.
At the Dublin District Court, Judge John O´Neill heard a statement read by a representative of the Zoological Society of Ireland, in which the zoo pleaded guilty to the offence, apologised for the injuries sustained by the toddler and her mother, and provided a list of health and safety changes it had implemented since the event to prevent another child being injured by an animal at the zoo.
The judge put the Zoological Society of Ireland on probation, subject to it paying €5,000 in charitable donations to LauraLynn Children’s Hospital and the Jack and Jill Foundation. Provided the payments are made by December 8th – when the zoo is scheduled to appear in court again – no conviction will be recorded against the Zoological Society of Ireland.
It is understood that no civil proceedings are being brought by the parents of the child injured by the animal at the zoo.