A TEENAGER who was aged eight years old when he suffered serious injuries after his right eye was impaled on a hook attached to a milking machine has secured €110,000 in settlement of High Court proceedings.
The settlement, approved by Mr Justice John Quirke yesterday, was made without admission of liability.
The court was told David Booth (now 17) sustained the injuries as a result of an exposed hook attached to a milking machine in a milking parlour at his family’s farm at Ballyduff, Stradbally, Co Laois, on April 28th, 2002.
David, Stradbally, Co Laois, suing through his sister Elaine, had sued the Senior Milking Machine Company Ltd, Abbeyleix Road, Stradbally, and Stradbally Farm Services Ltd, Grange Lower, Stradbally.
It was claimed the defendants were negligent on grounds including the milking machine was not constructed or designed to a safe and proper standard and manufactured in a negligent and careless manner as to create a hazard for users. It was further alleged the defendants permitted an exposed hook device to be present on the machine and failed to have regard to the possible dangers that device posed.
The defendants had denied all the claims against them.
Éanna Mulloy SC, for David, said the accident occurred when cattle were being moved to the milking parlour. He said David had no memory of how he came into contact with the hook and did not know if he tripped or slipped or fell in the milking parlour.