Girl wins €5k from Peter Marks after dye burns her scalp
A hair colouring that went wrong has cost a Peter Marks salon €5,000 in damages and as much again in legal costs.
Teenager Laura McHale suffered cigarette-like burns to her scalp, Judge Doirbhile Flanagan heard in the Circuit Civil court.
Barrister Sarah Berkeley said Ms McHale, of Primrose Grove, Darndale, Dublin, had an allergic reaction to the colourant used by the Northside Shopping Centre salon of Peter Marks.
Ms Berkeley said that in June 2008 Ms McHale, then 16, had attended the salon to have her hair coloured blonde and had not been happy with the result. She had returned and the hairdresser had tried to re-colour her hair.
After the second occasion, she had felt a burning sensation on her scalp following rinsing and later had to attend Dr Furlong McCarthy in the Meridian Clinic for treatment.
Her scalp looked as if it had cigarette burns on it and she had been advised not to use any shampoos or chemicals on her hair for several weeks.
Ms Berkeley told the court Ms McHale had been unable to comb or have anything done with her hair for a number of weeks until her scalp had settled down and she had felt embarrassed about it. The Northside salon had made a settlement offer of €5,000 with costs and she was recommending the court's approval.
Judge Flanagan, approving the settlement, said the experience had been a traumatic one for Laura.
Legal costs in such cases average €2,500 for each side.
hnews@herald.ie
- Ray Managh
