€90k for elderly woman after fall

An 82-year-old woman who fell on an escalator at Connolly Station, Dublin, when she got on it because the lift out was of order has settled her High Court action for €90,000.

Christina Flood, the High Court heard, was being wheeled in a wheelchair by her son and was on the way back from a trip to Howth when she fell at Connolly Station after her son helped her on the escalator.

On the second day of the action yesterday, Mr Justice Bernard Barton approved the €90,000 settlement on behalf of Mrs Flood who suffered rib fractures and a collapsed lung in the fall.

Mrs Flood, now 84, of Foley St, Dublin, sued Irish Rail through her son Paul Flood as a result of the fall on the escalator at Connolly Station on October 2, 2012. It was claimed that Mrs Flood was left with no option but to try with the help of her son to use the escalator.

It was further claimed there was an alleged failure to provide Mrs Flood with a safe means of access and egress from the train station and that there has been a marked deterioration in the quality of Mrs Flood’s life along with her ability to socialise and mobilise since the accident.

Irish Rail denied all the claims and said the Floods should have seen the signs on electronic boards on the Dart line on the way in to Connolly and that it was reckless to use the escalator.

Mr Justice Bernard Barton was told the lift had come back in operation about 15 minutes after Mrs Flood’s accident.

In evidence, Mr Flood said he and his mother were on their way back from Howth on October 2, 2012 and arrived in to Connolly Station.

He said that there were no signs to say the lift was not working and if he knew, he would have continued to the next station.