Waitress awarded €500,000 after glass jug shattered in her hand

A hotel waitress who injured her hand after a glass jug she was filling shattered has been awarded €500,000 by the High Court. Mr Justice Kevin Cross found Sophie Caillaud had suffered a very significant injury which had altered her life.

The French woman, who was working as a waitress in the luxury Lough Rynn Hotel in Co Leitrim in December, 2007, sustained a deep laceration to her right thumb which bled profusely and she later had to have an operation and wear a splint.

The award includes €195,000 in special damages to include over €13,000 for an automatic car; €1,000 a year for a weekly €20 wash and blow dry at the hairdressers, and €39 every three months for hair colouring. Over €2,000 per annum has been factored in for six hours home help every week.