The High Court has awarded some €42,000 damages to a bride who claimed her wedding day was ruined after the ceiling at the hotel where their reception was taking place suddenly collapsed.
Joanne Noone claimed what was supposed to be their most important day of their lives was destroyed when, just as she and her husband were about to start their first dance, the ceiling of the reception room at the Setanta House Hotel in Celbridge gave way.
Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill said he was satisfied to award Ms Noone €42,350 damages against the hotel as a result of the “serious effects” of the ceiling collapse on “her emotional well being.”
He found she had suffered mild post traumatic stress disorder, which was “perfectly understandable” given the exceptional circumstances of what happened on the day of her wedding.
Her marriage “did not get off to good start” and she and her husband cancelled their honeymoon to Italy as a result of what happened, the judge noted.
Ms Noone (33) Laragh, Maynooth, Co Kildare, had sued Connotes Ltd, trading as Setanta House Hotel, Clane Road, Celbridge Co Kildare over injuries sustained at the hotel following her wedding on September 26th 2003.
She claimed the hotel was negligent in failing to ensure the premises was safe or maintained in a good and proper manner.
Liability was conceded and that matter was before Mr Justice O’Neill for assessment of damages only. A number of others persons at the wedding, including the groom and the best man, have also brought proceedings over the incident.
In his judgment, Mr Justice O’Neill, who viewed a video recording of the wedding and the events after the ceiling collapsed, said the case was brought in relation to injuries suffered in the “most unusual of circumstances on the occasions of a marriage.”
What happened was “a pretty catastrophic event” which must have been a “terrifying experience” for all those present, he said.
Thankfully, he added, there were no serious injuries” and he expressed the hope the effects of what happened would ease over time.