Blind man gets €4,000 over pedestrian crossings

COUNCIL officials who switched off the audible warnings on pedestrian crossings to “safeguard” sighted people have settled a case taken by a blind user left stranded at the side of the road.

Dublin City Council agreed to pay local man, Des Murphy, €4,000 in compensation and promised to make all crossings safe and consult with blind users about any future changes to the audible signals or other features.

Mr Murphy was one of many blind and visually impaired pedestrians suddenly marooned in the city centre in the summer of 2004 after the council without warning turned off the audible beeps that tell users when it is safe to cross.