Woman sues Dublin Zoo after slipping near sea lions’ enclosure

A woman who slipped on a manhole cover while on a family day out to Dublin Zoo has sued for damages.

Gwen Leost Kane told the High Court on Wednesday that she and her husband had bought balloons and cake to celebrate their son Gabriel's first birthday, but, as a result of the fall, she ended up in hospital instead.

Ms Kane fractured her ankle after slipping while pushing her child’s buggy outside the sea lions’ enclosure. Her foot was in plaster for seven weeks and she was on crutches for 16 weeks, the court was told. “My ankle was completely shattered. It was a terrible feeling,” she said.

Ms Kane (43), Beechdale Court, Firhouse, Dublin has sued the Zoologicial Society of Ireland over the fall on June 12th, 2011.

She claims failure to adequately supervise the premises to ensure the sea lions’ enclosure and its surrounding amenities, visitor walkways and viewing area were safe for persons expected to walk through that area, even in wet weather.

It was alleged an accumulation of rainwater was permitted on a pedestrian walkway and the metal manhole cover.

Mr Justice Anthony Barr was told liability was admitted and the case was before the court for assessment of damages only. The judge will rule later on the damages amount.

Pat O’Connell SC, for Ms Kane, said she used to enjoy cycling and folk dancing before the accident, but was now unable to do those. Her whole life had been disrupted and she had been left with a 10cm scar on her foot.

In evidence, Ms Kane said she fell backwards after slipping and heard a bone crack.

“It has affected my life a lot. I used to wear a lot of high heels,” she said. “There is a heavy scar and I am now confined to comfortable footwear. I suffer pain every day.”

She found it difficult after the accident looking after her young son, she added.

When he sustained a fracture in an accident, she could not drive him to hospital.