The defendant appeared before Cork District Court on a charge of assaulting his daughter

A nine-year-old girl who will not be able to grow her nail long after catching her finger in a school door has been awarded €55,000.

The little girl lost the tip of her finger and it could not be replaced, Letterkenny Circuit Court in Co Donegal was told.

The girl was initially offered compensation of €35,000 following the accident which occurred in April 2017 at a Donegal primary school.

Representing the child, Fiona Crawford said that the girl had been operating the door of a classroom when it had closed back on to her finger.

She had initially been taken to Letterkenny University Hospital before being transferred to Galway, where an operation was performed on her finger by surgeon Michael O'Sullivan.

Ms Crawford told Judge John Aylmer that as a result of the crush injury, the child was sensitive to cold weather and would not permit anyone to touch the affected finger.

She said the girl suffered discomfort and said she would not be allowed to have her nails grow long and was left with a scar on the top of her finger.

Her writing had also been affected following the incident.

Ms Crawford said the original offer of €35,000 was low considering the effects the injury had caused.

Judge Aylmer agreed and refused the offer, stating that an improved offer should be made.

Later in the court, he approved a settlement of €55,000.

Irish Independent