Claim Against Iarnrod Éireann for Workplace Injury Settled

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A claim against Iarnrod Éireann for an injury that an employee sustained has been settled for an undisclosed sum.

In February 2012, Padraic Reddin (38 at the time of the incident) from Donaghmede, County Dublin, was employed as an electrician for Iarnrod Éireann when he was changing the front destination scroll on a DART train in the depot in Fairview. As he was lifting the 10kg scroll into place, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his shoulder and across his upper back. He was forced to take a break from work, and waited for the pain to subside a little before continuing his job of installing the scroll later on.

For several weeks after the incident, Padraic continued to experience pain in his shoulder. If affected his everyday life, and interfered with his sleeping patterns. Even small tasks, such as making a cup of tea, proved occasional discomfort for Padraic. He visited his own GP, and reported his injury to his superior. However, no accident report form was filed by the superior as Padraic’s accident had happen two weeks prior to being reported.

Padraic sought legal counsel and made a claim against Irish Rail for a workplace injury. He submitted an application for assessment of his claim to the Injuries Board. However, the defendants refused to give consent to the Injuries Board for the assessment of the case, and as a result Padraic was issued with authorisation to pursue his claim against his employers in court.

The case was heard earlier this week in the Circuit Civil Court by Mr Justice Raymond Groarke. The plaintiff claimed that, due to the weight of the scroll that needed to be lifted approximately 2 meters to be installed, that the task should have required two employees to prevent any potential risk of injury. The judge also heard that Padraic experienced discomfort in his upper back for several months following the incident.

The hearing briefly adjourned, and after the court reassembled the judge was informed that the claim against Iarnod Éireann for a workplace injury had been settled for an undisclosed amount. Judge Groarke awarded Padraic his legal costs, and struck out the case.

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