High Court Awards €72k to Woman Injured in Hotel Slip

A woman from Tipperary has been awarded €72,000 by the High Court following a fall at a wedding reception held in a four-star hotel. The incident, which took place in Hotel Kilkenny, involved the woman slipping on a wet floor while wearing stiletto heels. Despite the hotel’s claims that the woman lost her balance due to her footwear, the court was persuaded that the fall resulted from a clear liquid on the floor.

During the hearing, the woman, Pamela Kirby, detailed her experience, stating she was in significant pain after the fall, which occurred as she exited a lift on her way to the banquet. The hotel argued that her high heels were the cause of her fall, but this was refuted by the judge, who accepted that Ms Kirby had worn similar shoes without incident on numerous occasions over six years.

Incident Details

The court heard that the accident happened on August 18, 2018, while Ms Kirby was attending a friend’s wedding. As she stepped out of the lift, her left ankle buckled, leading to her fall. Despite the hotel’s assertion that there was no liquid on the floor, evidence presented by Ms Kirby’s husband supported her claim. He observed that the floor appeared wet when he went to assist her.

Court’s Decision

Mr Justice Tony O’Connor ruled in favour of Ms Kirby, stating that the hotel failed to demonstrate it had taken adequate precautions to ensure the floor was safe. The court found that Ms Kirby had a reasonable expectation the floor would be free of hazards or that appropriate warnings would be in place if it was wet. Consequently, the hotel was deemed to have breached its duty of care.

Injuries and Testimonies

The injuries sustained by Ms Kirby were significant, including a dislocated elbow, broken toe bones, and a cast on her leg. She described wearing her bridal shoes from her own wedding in 2012 and having consumed two glasses of wine with ice at the drinks reception prior to the incident. Her husband corroborated her account, noting his concern was primarily for her welfare at the time, which explained why he did not immediately report the wet floor.

Conclusion

The ruling highlights the importance of hotels maintaining safe environments for their guests, especially in areas with high foot traffic. The judgment serves as a reminder of the responsibilities that establishments have to ensure their premises are free from potential hazards that could lead to accidents.