A woman who alleged that she was thrown down steps leading out of a Dublin night club has been awarded £10,000 damages in the Circuit Civil Court.
Judge Patrick McCartan heard evidence from Ms Cara Murray (24), of Ardmore Grove, Artane, Dublin, that she was grabbed by bouncers in McGrath's Night Club, Upper O'Connell Street, Dublin, and put out on the street.
Ms Murray said she had walked upstairs ahead of a girlfriend, who had stopped to pay at the cash kiosk. Bouncers had jumped on her at the top of the stairs and had thrown her down eight steps. She had fallen on the landing. Immediately afterwards, they put her outside.
Witnesses for the club said that Ms Murray and her friend had been seen attempting to enter the club without paying. A woman working at the cash kiosk had called bouncers. When the bouncers saw the two women, Ms Murray had already fallen on the stairway, allegedly in her haste upstairs.
The judge said that there was a conflict of evidence. Ms Murray was a regular socialiser in the club and he felt she was not going to jeopardise entry to it by attempting a once-off entry without paying. He assumed that there had been a misunderstanding when staff had seen her walk ahead, unaware that her friend was paying.
