The owners of a second World War landing craft have been told to pay compensation for a Dublin traffic crash. Judge Elizabeth Dunne held in the Circuit Civil Court that Mr Douglas Harty, driver of the DUK Tours amphibious "coach," was to blame in hitting the car of Mr Anthony Cummins outside Dublin's City Hall in February last year.
Mr Angus Buttanshaw, for Mr Cummins, of Armagh Road, Crumlin, Dublin, told the court the former landing craft had been converted to drive people on sight-seeing tours around Dublin.
Mr Cummins said he had followed the craft along several streets before passing it out in Dame Street. He had just moved off from traffic lights in Lord Edward Street when "the duck" crunched into the rear of his car. Mr Harty said Mr Cummins's car had pulled in front of him.
Judge Dunne, directing DUK Tours, trading as Viking Splash Tours, of Patrick Street, Dublin, to pay €3,525 for the damage to the car, said she could envisage a situation where somebody behind such a vehicle could become fed up and undertake a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre. She believed Mr Harty had simply failed to see the car in front of him.