Court told of risk to post staff

A consultant orthopaedic surgeon told the High Court yesterday that delivering post through a low-level, letter-box posed a risk…

A consultant orthopaedic surgeon told the High Court yesterday that delivering post through a low-level, letter-box posed a risk to postal workers.

Dr Paul McNamee was giving evidence in an action by Mr Anthony Clabby (40), of Woodlawn View, Santry, Dublin, against Global Windows, with registered offices at Lagan Road, Dublin Industrial Estate. Global has joined An Post as a party to the proceedings.

Mr Clabby claims that on March 27th, 1996, he was delivering mail at Cooltree Park, Beaumont, Dublin, and bent down on his hunkers as, he claimed, he had been shown by an inspector in An Post.

He lifted the plate on the letter-box with one hand and pushed the letter through with the other. When he straightened up he experienced severe back pain, and has suffered from soreness, discomfort and general upset to his life as a result. Global and An Post deny Mr Clabby's claims.

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The court has heard Mr Clabby had 600 premises on his postal route and about 100 of these had doors with low-level letter-boxes.

Yesterday, Mr McNamee said Mr Clabby came to him with a ruptured disc.The frequency of the manner of delivering a letter through a low-level letter-box increased the risk. By November 1996, there had been a big improvement in Mr Clabby's condition. When he last saw him in April 2001, Mr Clabby was still complaining of intermittent pain.

The hearing resumes on Thursday.