A woman hill walker told a court she lost her sense of balance following an accident in a Dublin hotel. Ms Catherine Deegan (24), a student, of Walnut Rise, Drumcondra, Dublin, told the Circuit Civil Court- she fell down a stairway in the Royal Dublin Hotel three years ago, spraining both her ankles.
Ms Deegan sued Gartan Ltd, trading as the Royal Dublin Hotel, O'Connell Street, for £30,000 damages for alleged negligence.
Her counsel, Mr Mark de Blacam, said it was his client's case the concrete stairway was dimly lit, the steps were uneven, - and the centre of them was slippery.
A duty manager, Ms Margaret Newman, told Mr David Nolan, counsel for the hotel, that the staircase was permanently lit during functions as it was used as an emergency exit.
Judge Harvey Kenny held Ms Deegan should have known of the existence of a handrail and should have been more careful. He awarded general damages of £14,459, but reduced the decree by 25 per cent on the grounds of her contributory negligence.