€77,000 for hotel worker scarred by piece of glass

Adam Conway. Photo: Collins

Tim Healy

A hotel worker who sued after cutting his hand on a piece of glass while gathering up till receipts in a busy bar has been awarded more than €77,000 by the High Court.

Ms Justice Bronagh O'Hanlon said Adam Conway (23) had been left with a zigzag scar on his left ring finger.

He also now had a decreased grip in his left hand, she said.

Mr Conway, of Fairyhill, Bray, Co Wicklow, sued Mageiteagain Ltd, of Marino Mart, Fairview, Dublin, which was the then owner of the Royal Hotel & Merrill Leisure Club in Bray.

The accident happened in the hotel's Ballroom Bar in the early hours of New Year's Day, 2014.

Surgery

Mr Conway, who was an assistant duty manager at the time, was directed to tidy items from around the cash register.

Unfortunately, the judge said, a piece of glass was tucked between the receipts and Mr Conway suffered a deep cut to his finger.

He was taken to hospital and later had to have surgery.

Mr Conway claimed there was a failure to have a safe system of work and a hazard or trap had been created at the cash register. The case was undefended.

The court heard he would become one of the preferential creditors in the liquidation of the defendant company.

In evidence, Mr Conway said he missed his third level exams the following spring as he could not write.

He was off work for three months and also suffered pain if he had to carry heavy items.

Ms Justice O'Hanlon awarded €75,000 in general damages and €2,491 in special damages.