Woman (84) gets €90,000 over Connolly Station fall

An 84-year-old woman who fell on an escalator at Connolly Station, Dublin, has settled her High Court action for €90,000. The court was told Christina Flood was helped out of her wheelchair by her son and lifted on to the escalator.

On the second day of the action on Tuesday, Mr Justice Bernard Barton approved the €90,000 settlement on behalf of Mrs Flood, who suffered rib fractures and a collapsed lung in the fall.

Mrs Flood, Foley Street, Dublin, through her son Paul, had sued Iarnród Éireann as a result of the fall on October 2nd, 2012.

It was claimed Mrs Flood was left with no option but to attempt with the help of her son to use the escalator as the elevator was out of order.

It was further claimed there was an alleged failure to provide Mrs Flood with a safe means of access and egress from the train station. There was a marked deterioration in the quality of Mrs Flood’s life, along with her ability to socialise and mobilise since the accident, it was also alleged.

The company denied all the claims, argued the Floods should have seen the signs on electronic boards on the Dart line on the way into Connolly from their day trip to Howth and it was reckless to use the escalator.

Mr Justice Barton was told the lift had come back into operation about 15 minutes after Mrs Flood’s accident.