13-year-old girl awarded €25,000 following shock Luas incident

Through her mother Elaine, 13-year-old Aoife Heron sued Veolia Transport Dublin Light Rail Ltd. for negligence and breach of duty following an incident which took place on Valentine's Day 2008.

Travelling from Dublin's Connolly Station to Jervis Street with her mum and younger sister Kate, Aoife was involved in an incident which saw the child require medical attention and a series of psychotherapy sessions. 

Aoife was six-years-old when her head became trapped between the automatic doors of the Luas as she attempted to disembark the Dublin tram.

The court heard that as Elaine and her two children were boarding the vehicle, the doors closed on Kate's buggy in a turn of events which left Elaine on the platform, her older daughter inside the tram and the buggy caught in the doors.

Barrister Michael Coen attested that when the doors reopened Aoife attempted to rejoin her mother and sister on the platform only to have the doors close against her head.

Trapped between the doors, Aoife suffered bruising and soft tissue injury to her head and Circuit Court President Mr. Justice Raymond Groarke heard that the child was left physically and emotionally scarred by the frightening incident.

The company made Aoife a €25,000 settlement offer which was today approved by Judge Groarke.