A schoolboy working in a service station had his petrol-splashed trousers set alight by a co-worker in what a court heard was an incident of "horrible and horrific horseplay".
Stephen Wright (13) suffered serious burns to his legs when Keith Gordon (17) put a cigarette lighter to the back of his trousers at Jobstown Service Station, Tallaght, on August 30th, 1998.
The boy, who worked part-time at the station, had just finished filling a car when some of the petrol splashed on his trousers. He went into the shop area where his supervisor, Mr Sam Robinson, and Keith Gordon were. He asked if he could go home and change his trousers.
"Keith Gordon said `Let me see how much petrol there is' and he then put the lighter to the back of his legs," a health and safety inspector, Mr Paul Coyle, told Dublin District Court. Stephen ran into the back of the forecourt where Mr Robinson rolled him on the ground and extinguished the fire.
The owner of the service station, Mr Jack Mullan, who has since left the business, arrived and brought Stephen to an outside tap and put water on his burns. Stephen's father then arrived and took him to Tallaght Hospital where he spent 3 1/2 weeks. He has been receiving skin graft treatment since and has been told he will not be able to play football for 2 1/2 years.
Judge Sean McBride asked whether there had been any proceedings against Keith Gordon arising out of the incident and was told there had not been. There was, however, a pending High Court civil action for damages against the service station which yesterday pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act for failing to have safe work practices.
The first related to the incident involving Stephen and the second happened on February 18th last when Mr Coyle again called to the premises and saw two members of staff smoking.
Defence counsel said Jobstown Service Station Ltd had been in business for 20 years and was now being wound up as part of the transfer of responsibility to Irish Shell. Mr Mullan deeply regretted what was "an unfortunate and very tragic situation where a young man's life should have been blighted in this way".
Judge McBride said there had been a flagrant breach of regulations.
He imposed a total fine of £1,250 and also ordered the defendants to pay £1,000 costs.