Electrician settles €38k claim against Irish Rail

A 38-year-old electrician, who claimed he had difficulty making a cup of tea following a shoulder injury at work, has settled a €38,000 damages claim in the Circuit Civil Court against former employer Iarnrod Éireann.

Padraic Reddin yesterday told the court that, in February 2012, he had been working for Iarnrod Éireann at its Fairview depot in Dublin and had been changing a front destination scroll on a Dart train when he felt a sharp pain in his upper body.

Reddin, of Whiteleaf Grove, Donaghmede, Dublin, told his barrister, Justin McQuade, that he had put the sign down, sat down for some time, and completed the job on that day.

Reddin, who sued Iarnrod Éireann for negligence, claimed that the task of changing the 10kg sign, which was above his head at over 2m high, was a two- person job. The company had denied his claims.

Circuit Court president Mr Justice Raymond Groarke heard Reddin had felt pain and discomfort for several months and had experienced difficulty in his everyday life. He had trouble sleeping and occasionally felt pain when making a cup of tea.

Following a brief adjournment, Mr McQuade told the court that his client’s claim had settled. Judge Groarke struck out the case and awarded Reddin his legal costs. Details of the settlement were not disclosed in court.