The High Court has awarded €200,000 in damages to a Dublin docks worker who suffered severe injuries when a large container on which he was standing collapsed.
John Murphy (65), Brian Boru Street, Clontarf, sustained crush injuries as a result of the collapse, which occurred on July 9th, 2007, while he was helping load containers on the Coastal Isle vessel in Dublin Port. The ship had picked up containers at Belfast port earlier and was en route to Liverpool.
Mr Murphy sued his employers Portroe Stevedores Ltd, Alexander Road, Dublin; Belfast-registered Container Line Ltd, operators of the ship; and the ship’s owners Partenreederei Ms Johanna, Flensburg, Germany, who all denied liability.
In his ruling, Mr Justice Peter Charleton found Container Line Ltd and the ship’s owners were liable, but struck out the claim against Portroe Stevedores. He was satisfied the negligence in this case was due to some “want of care by an unknown member of the vessel’s crew”.
Mr Murphy suffered a fractured pelvis, underwent two operations, had plates and screws inserted to his pelvis and spent several weeks in hospital. He was unable to return to work.