ESB worker drops deafness claims

The first ESB worker to take action against the company for alleged work-related deafness has dramatically withdrawn his action.

59-year-old Bernard Farrell from Ballinteer in Dublin, has withdrawn his personal injury action.

This was supposed to be the second day of the hearing, but Mr Farrell has withdrawn his allegations against the ESB of negligence and breach of duty.

Mr Farrell had claimed that his hearing had been damaged by exposure to high levels of industrial noise at the plant.

He said that he was given no form of protection until 1987, when earmuffs were issued to staff.

This was disputed by ESB who said noise regulation signs were in place since the mid seventies.

Mr Farrell admitted that signs have been on display and his defence team subsequently dropped the claim, saying that there is no case to answer.

The ESB has released a statement saying: "Bernard Farrell is a valued employee of the company and has been since he joined the company in 1968.

"It is unfortunate that the case went this far."

This case had been seen as a test case for a number of upcoming deafness claims by ESB workers against the company.