Woman who impaled her arm at Oasis gig awarded €75K

A woman who injured her arm when it became impaled on a spike as she climbed over a high locked gate to leave the Slane Castle grounds after an Oasis concert has been awarded €75,000 damages at the High Court.

Ms Justice Bronagh O’Hanlon said Karen McCormack has been left with horrible scarring after the accident, which occurred in June 2009.

The judge ruled concert promoters MCD was 80 per cent, and Ms McCormack 20 per cent, liable for the accident with the effect that the total damages award of some €90,000 was reduced to €75,000.

After indicating it intended to appeal to the Supreme Court, MCD asked for a stay on payment of the full award as Ms McCormack lives in Australia. The judge granted a stay providing there was an immediate payment of €45,000.

Ms McCormack (27), Deerpark, Ashbourne, Co Meath, alleged there should have been signs advising people the Dublin Road gate to the castle, where she had entered, would be closed after the concert.

MCD denied liability and alleged Ms McCormack took a “prohibited shortcut” and passed three designated exits before going down a woodland track to the locked gate.