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A woman who claims she fell over an ornamental lion on a pathway at a hotel while attending a wedding reception has sued for damages in the High Court.
Joyce Mills (45) suffered a fracture to her lower leg, has been left with scarring and was 11 weeks off work after the fall at the Cabra Castle Hotel at Kingscourt, Co Cavan, her counsel Pat O’Connell SC told the court.
Ms Mills, The Oaks, Clonshaugh Woods, Dublin, has sued Kingscourt Castle Ltd as a result of the fall on October 23rd, 2011.
She claims a dangerous tripping hazard was created and there was no adequate lighting around the black statue. As a result of the accident, she claims she has been affected in her everyday activities and her enjoyment of life has been severely diminished.
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Claims
The hotel denies the claims and pleads contributory negligence on Ms Mills’s behalf in allegedly failing to look where she was walking.
Opening the case, Mr O’Connell said that after the wedding reception his client was returning to her accommodation in the courtyard of the hotel with her partner and friends when the accident happened.
She fell over a black ornamental lion as she could not see it and suffered a significant injury to her left lower leg. When she returned to work she still had to use one crutch. Despite wearing high heels all her life, she could no longer do so.
The case continues before Mr Justice Anthony Barr.