A VIDEO clip on YouTube relating to RTÉ television's The Saturday Night Showwas watched by a judge yesterday as part of the evidence in a personal injuries claim against the national broadcaster.
Judge Jacqueline Linnane saw presenter Brendan O’Connor having to hold back drapes while cameras broadcast a number by The Overtones. On the video he told show producers: “I did warn you about this curtain.”
Yesterday in the Circuit Civil Court the curtain featured in a damages claim by props assistant Arthur McMullen (59), who was awarded €18,500 damages against RTÉ for an injury he suffered in a fall after he had several times unsnagged the curtain during a show rehearsal in February 2010.
Barrister Paul Gallagher told the court Mr McMullen, Roebuck Downs, Goatstown, Co Dublin, had fallen over a studio floor lamp and had injured his left elbow.
Mr McMullen said although the incident happened two years ago he still suffered from pain in his elbow. On several occasions he had to free a drape which had become snagged in a mirror ball and he had fallen on his arm.
John Murray, a rigger and colleague of Mr McMullen in RTÉ, said there was “an ongoing issue with flying drapes” at the Donnybrook studios.