A fireman who claims he can no longer work because he is in constant pain as a result of back and neck injuries has brought a High Court action for damages. He claims he sustained the injuries during a training exercise.
Mr Charles Keane (41) also claims that he experienced psychiatric problems in trying to cope with constant pain and had once put a loaded shotgun into his mouth but had been disturbed by his three-year-old daughter.
He has brought a claim for damages against Ennis Fire Brigade, where he worked, and Clare County Council. They deny all his claims and have pleaded contributory negligence against Mr Keane.
The case arose after Mr Keane, Cloughleigh, Ennis, took part on November 30th, 1994, in a training exercise at the fire station in Ennis. He had breathing apparatus on his back weighing some two stone. He said the exercise was conducted in darkness, and he and another fireman were instructed to pick up, by the legs, a "casualty" on the ground.
That "casualty" was a big man weighing 15 stone who was lashing out with his legs and twisting. Mr Keane said he was being constantly twisted from side to side, and when he got out of the building, he was exhausted. He told his station officer about the pain in his back, which became progressively worse.
Mr Keane said that three years after the incident he is at home all the time and constantly in pain. The case continues on Tuesday.