BOY’S FALL FROM SWING

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 January 1934, Page 3

BOY’S FALL FROM SWING

DAMAGBg AGAINST COUNCIL

LONDON, November 18.

The liability of a Council in respect of an accident to a child while playing on a swing was raised in a case in the King’s Bench Division yesterday. Herbert Purkis, 13, of Greenwayavenue, Wood-street, Walthamstow, successfully sued Walthamstow Council, claiming damages for injuries he received when he fell off a swing in a recreation ground on May 26 last year

Plaintiff’s case was that the swing was a dangerous plaything, and that the Council was negligent in not providing proper supervision, but this was denied. The boy’s nose was broken and he received a cut over the left eye. Mr. N. L. Macaskie, K.C. (with him Mr. N. R. Fox-Andrews), for the council, said that the case was of public importance, because it affected every corporation in the country. Mr. Justice Macnaghten agreed, saying there were now playgrounds everywhere.

It was stated that the boy had a scar over his left eye and was disfigured for life. He might never be able to close his left eye again without ' a special effort. The jury returned a verdict for the boy, saying that in their opinion one attendant could not give adequate supervision, and that the accident was caused by the lack of proper supervision. They awarded the boy £l5O damages and his father £3B, and judgment was entered accordingly. . Tn granting a stay of execution, pending an appeal, the judge remarked that it was obvious a question of great public importance was involved.