Gas Networks Ireland

An 83-year-old man yanked a gas pipe from a wall inside his house causing an explosion in which he was burned. And although his actions had been described as “foolhardy” he was yesterday awarded €72,500 as a judge said Gas Networks Ireland had left “a primed bomb” in the house.

Mr Justice Paul Butler said: “It was like having a primed bomb in the house. If some — and I don’t mind using the word — eejit decided to break the pipe away I believe it could be anticipated by the defendant. They leave an elderly man with a loose pipe in the house without adequate explanation that if he removed it a number of people could have been killed or injured.

“Was the defendant negligent? Yes. Was the plaintiff negligent? Yes. I have no hesitation saying yes, by carrying out a foolhardy operation,” Mr Justice Butler said.