Woman injured in Dublin airport escalator fall sues for damages

A woman who suffered injuries after falling on an escalator at Dublin Airport has sued for damages.

Elizabeth Lavin (69) was due to fly to Manchester, had checked in and was holding her boarding pass and pulling a small bag on wheels when the incident occurred, the High Court heard.

Mr Justice Michael Hanna was told Ms Lavin was on the up escalator at Terminal 2 when she fell forward on her face.

The judge is to be shown CCTV footage of the fall when the case resumes on Wednesday.

Ms Lavin, Blackhall, Calverstown, Kilcullen, Co Kildare, has sued Dublin Airport Authority PLC as a result of the fall on the escalator on November 2nd 2011. She has claimed, suddenly and without warning, she was caused to fall down on her face as she was travelling up the escalator.

She alleges failure to take reasaonable care for her safety and claims she was permitted to use the escalator when, she alleges, the authority knew or ought to have known it was unsafe and dangerous for her to do so as she had baggage.

She also alleges negligence on the part of the Authority by designing or laying out the terminal in a way that, for persons carrying baggage, the escalator presented the only real practical access to the next floor.

After the fall, Ms Lavin says she was taken by ambulance to Beaumont Hospital and treated for a wound to her head and other minor lacerations.

She was later referred to an orthopaedic surgeon with pain in her head, arm, hip and knee, it is also pleaded. She had to take six painkillers a day and found it difficult to do household activities, it is also claimed.

Ms Lavin, it is alleged, has been left with six scars on the right side of her face and a small scar on her upper lip.

The claims are denied.