Irish Rail passenger allegedly called ‘liar’ by inspector settles case

A woman who sued Irish Rail because a ticket inspector allegedly called her a liar has settled an action against the company for defamation.

Marie Varley (27) of Sigurd Road, Arbour Hill, Dublin, settled a €75,000 claim for an undisclosed sum in the Circuit Civil Court.

Ms Varley told her counsel Kevin D'Arcy she had booked a Westport to Claremorris train ticket online. When she turned up at the Westport station the train was about to leave and she had no time to obtain a print out of her email reservation.

She claimed while on the train a ticket inspector refused to accept her email as appropriate to allow her to travel. The inspector told her he would give her a chance to get off at Roscommon to print it and if she failed to do so he would issue a €100 fine.

When she got off at Roscommon the cashier there told her to get back on the train as the email was sufficient proof of a ticket. The inspector obtained her reservation number and tapped it into the ticket machine which then read “unknown number.”

Varley stated the inspector told the cashier: “She is lying and messing around with numbers.” She said she was in tears at this stage and said she had most certainly paid for her ticket.

Mr D'Arcy, who appeared with O'Regan Little solicitors, told Judge Pat Quinn that Ms Varley was then permitted to get back on the train where a discussion took place between her and the inspector.

Ms Varley said the inspector told her: “You’re lying and you’re getting a €100 fine, now get back to your seat.” She alleged the inspector pushed her.

The Irish Rail inspector involved in the alleged incidents gave evidence in which he denied pushing Ms Varley or having spoken the alleged words.

After Judge Quinn said he would rise for a few minutes as the parties engaged in talks in the corridor. A short time later, Mr D’Arcy told the court the case had been settled and could be struck out with costs to the plaintiff.