Woman who slipped on broken eggs loses €38,000 claim

A 24-year-old woman, who claimed she suffered injuries after slipping and falling on broken eggs in a Dublin supermarket, has lost a €38,000 damages claim in the Circuit Civil Court.

Lisa McDonagh had told the court that in September 2012, she had been doing her grocery shopping with a friend at Iceland, Le Fanu Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin, when the accident happened.

The unemployed woman, of Rosebank Place, Clondalkin, Dublin, said she had almost finished shopping when she slipped on the eggs and fell, striking her head, right shoulder and arm on the floor.

She was assisted by a member of staff before being taken by ambulance to St James’s Hospital in Dublin. X-rays revealed no fracture. She suffered soft tissue injuries to her neck and shoulder.

Ms McDonagh told Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke that she suffered pain in her shoulder and migraines for several weeks after the accident, but had since recovered.

Her daily life and swimming activity had been disturbed. She sued Aim Cash and Carry Ltd, which trades as Iceland, with a registered office at Northumberland Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin, for negligence and breach of duty.

Barrister Tom Clarke, for Iceland, said the store denied liability as CCTV evidence showed a man dropping the eggs 90 seconds before Ms McDonagh slipped on them.

Mr Clarke said there was nothing the store could have done in such a short lapse of time.

Judge Groarke, dismissing McDonagh’s claim, said he could not find the store had been negligent.