Each year 10,000 children die needlessly in the European Union due to unintentional injuries. In 2005 104 children died in Ireland as a result of an accident. (European safety Alliance)

It is therefore necessary to look at how young people, particularly those injured in accidents are offered protection by the law and can recover damages for the injury caused to them.

A minor is usually described as a person who has not yet reached the age of majority. In Ireland the age of majority is 18. This means that until a plaintiff reaches 18 years of age the law puts in place certain safeguards to protect the interests of the minor. Examples of such additional protections can be found in criminal and contract law.

Under the 1908 Childrens Act children under the age of seven were presumed not to have the means really to commit crime.

However the 2001 Childrens Act altered the scope of juvenile justice by placing the age of criminal responsibly at 12 years of age.

As a result of public policy concerns the age of criminal responsibility has however been amended once moreby the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which puts the age of criminal responsibility at 12 years of age except in cases regarding the serious indictable offences of murder, manslaughter, rape and sexual offences.