THE cook on the motor vessel Kilkenny, which sank after a collision in Dublin Bay five years ago, was awarded £107,039 damages in the High Court yesterday.
Mr Christopher Doyle (38), Coolamber Close, Cobh, Co Cork, suffers from nightmares. On one occasion his wife found him sleep walking and searching through a cupboard for a shipmate, Mr Dessie Hayes, who is presumed to have drowned in the incident. Mr Doyle now also has a dread of water.
He brought an action against the B&I line, with registered offices at the B&I Ferryport, Alexandra Road, Dublin, owners of the Kilkenny, and Partenreederei of Germany, owners of the MS Hasselwerder.
Mr Justice Morris, giving judgment yesterday, said Mr Doyle was now left with a dread of water.
The judge said that on November 21st, 1991, the Kilkenny collided with the Hasselwerder at the mouth of Dublin port.
Mr Doyle was woken in his cabin by Mr Hayes who told him the ship was going down. He managed to make his way to the deck.
Mr Hayes was mounting stairs leading to that deck when he fell and slid into the water. He called to Mr Doyle to throw him something.
Mr Doyle, said the judge, realised to his dismay there was nothing he could throw and as the ship was sinking or turning over he jumped. Mr Hayes was presumed to have died.
After half an hour Mr Doyle was picked up by a lifeboat from the MV Leinster.
Mr Justice Morris said that when Mr Doyle returned home he suffered from serious psychological problems such as sleep disturbance, nightmares and sleepwalking. He became irritable with his wife and three daughters.
He also suffered feelings of guilt that he had been unable to rescue Mr Hayes. He was required to take significant amounts of medication and began to drink to excess.
As a result of treatment, said the judge, Mr Doyle returned to work with B&I in April 1992. He got a job cleaning a ship in dry dock.
Two incidents occurred that upset Mr Doyle. The first was when he was told the wreck of the Kilkenny had been brought ashore and the mutilated body of Mr Hayes had been recovered. This proved to be false.
The second incident was when the ship he was working on while testing its engines caused him to believe it was putting to sea. As a result of these incidents he gave up work.
He later returned to work and was able to put to sea but was unable to cope with rough weather. He tried a third time and again failed.
Mr Justice Morris said Mr Doyle had to be compensated for the life threatening event, post traumatic stress and the fact that this condition had rendered him incapable of following his chosen occupation.
He granted a stay in the event of an appeal on condition that £75,000 be paid immediately.