Damages of €280,000 for man who lost finger tip on Fás course

A carpenter who lost the tip of a finger while using a machine during a Fás course has been awarded €280,500 damages by the High Court.

Jim Connolly (39) was injured when he pushed back a sliding table which was part of a panel saw machine six years ago.

Mr Justice Kevin Cross said it is was not certain that Mr Connolly would be able to return to work as a carpenter following the accident.

Mr Connolly, with an addrses in Dundalk, Co Louth, was attending a wardrobe and cabinet making training course in Dundalk and carrying tools in his tool bag when he saw his passage was blocked.

He pushed back a sliding table which was part of a panel saw machine and the fingers of his left hand became caught between the edge of the sliding table and the metal plates of the platfrom.

Mr Connolly lost the top of a middle finger on his left hand and suffered a lacerationto his ring finger.

He sued Fás for allegedly not providing a safe place of work and also sued the manufacturer of the saw Werkhuizen Landuyt N.V.

Mr Justice Kevin Cross found Fás was two thirds at fault and the saw manufacturer was one third at fault in relation to the accident. He held there was no contributory negligence on Mr Connolly’s behalf.

Mr Connolly is unable to perform his work as a carpenter, cannot use tools and cannot play games on his computer, the judge said. He also suffers pain and numbness in his fingers.