An American woman told the High Court yesterday she remembered pieces of her fingers being gathered by people around her and put in her lap after she had attempted to tie up a boat near Meelick Lock on the Shannon.
Ms Judith Simpson (55), a native of New York currently living in Virginia, brought an action for damages against Emerald Star Line, with offices at Gardner House, Ballsbridge, Dublin.
Ms Simpson told Mr Justice Johnson that, following the accident on May 27th, 1994, her ring finger was re-attached in a Galway hospital but later had to be amputated when she returned to New York because she had no feeling in it. She also lost part of her right-hand fingers.
An instruction video for people hiring cruisers from the company was shown to the court. Mr Harry Whelehan SC, for Ms Simpson, said the video gave no demonstration of handling ropes.
Ms Simpson said she came to Ireland in May 1994 and went cruising on the Shannon with two friends, Mr Ciaran Walsh, of Hainault Drive, Foxrock, Dublin, and Ms Alison Clarke of Glendale Park, Belfast.
Ms Simpson said they saw the instruction video and an Emerald Star representative came on board, brought the boat away from the docking area, gave each a chance to steer, pointed out some safety equipment and how to take care of it, and reiterated some points on the video. She did not remember any mention of ropes.
The accident happened when they pulled alongside a pier. Ms Simpson got off and went to the back holding a rope. She thought she was putting the rope around a "cleat" or bollard. The next thing she remembered was being on her knees on the dockside and people gathering pieces of her fingers. She had intended to put the rope around the cleat and maybe the rope was wrapped. She did not know how it was in her hand. After her return to New York she had suffered from depression.
Emerald Star Line said Ms Simpson's injuries were caused by her own negligence. Alternatively, the company claimed, Ms Simpson was guilty of contributory negligence by failing to follow safety instructions and wrapping the mooring rope around her fingers. It also pleaded that Ms Simpson, by agreement and/or by her conduct, voluntarily assumed the risks inherent in the use of cruisers. The hearing continues today.