Traumatised parents of a young Irish girl who was left with facial scars from a 2014 fire in Qatar have criticised a court for slashing her compensation.
Elizabeth Soffe was a six-month-old baby when her cot caught fire nine years ago, leaving her with third-degree burns to 60% of her body.
Her civil engineer dad Liam, 44, who was working in Qatar to get it ready for last year’s soccer World Cup, and nurse mum Sinead, 44, pursued a six-year legal case for damages.
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The courts heard a fire expert’s testimony that the blaze had been caused by faulty electrics or poor maintenance of an air conditioning unit.
A QAR 15 million (€3.8 million) sum was awarded for Elizabeth’s lifelong care, but the property company appealed and the figure was cut to €1.8m.
The family, from Dublin, now lives in England for their daughter’s treatment and yesterday claimed they have not received a cent for Elizabeth, who is aged nine.
Liam said previously: “Elizabeth was in her cot for 30 seconds before Sinead heard her crying. She never cried, so Sinead went up straight away.
“There was smoke coming out of the room, the cot was on fire, Elizabeth was on fire, the rest of the room was on fire. Sinead got her out.”
Elizabeth lost her hair, an ear, some fingers, and part of her nose in the horrific blaze and will need surgeries and ongoing treatment for the rest of her life, including reconstructive surgery.
The parents, who have three other children – Amelia, William and Daniel - said yesterday: “Elizabeth needs regular surgery.
“Skin grafts don't grow with you so constantly needs releases and grafting to allow her to grow.
"She needs physiotherapy to keep her full range of movement as skin grafts become tight.
“Laser treatment to break up her scars and needs scar management treatments four times a day.
"She will need many operations in the future. Reconstruction all over, in particular [to her] face, hands and chest. She will need wigs and a prosthetic ear.
"Skin graft release operations every six months. She would also need adaptations to be able to work etc, such as an adapted car."
They added: "We were told the court removed the future operations amount as there were no future procedures scheduled. We believe it’s wrong.
“How can you rule that the child was injured as a result of negligence, award costs for operations and treatment in the past, but not in the future?
"She will need operations her whole life. The court-appointed medical expert was clear on what treatments she would need and what it would cost."
The family believes that the management company involved - which is associated with a multimillionaire businessman who has interests in property, tourism, and travel – could continue to appeal against their efforts for more compensation.
They said: "We have not received any money to date. They have appealed every ruling. There has been no challenge to the facts, only the process."
They added: "We fully expect them to continue to appeal all rulings.
"We keep all this from Elizabeth. She’s too young to understand and it’s too depressing to bother anyone else with.”
Liam and Sinead hope a new hearing later this month will re-start the compensation process.
A page to help raise funds for Elizabeth’s treatment has been set on the justgiving.com website called Soffe Step Challenge.
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