A woman whose leg was amputated below the knee three years after she allegedly "slipped violently" on the stairs at the entrance to a Dublin nightclub has sued for damages.
The action by Eileen Whelton (55) is against the company which owns The Pod club on Harcourt Street and MCD Promotions. The claims are denied and the defendants plead Ms Whelton had consumed alcohol at the time of the incident eight years ago.
Ms Whelton, a catering assistant from Ballinderry, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, has sued Charlotte Inn Limited, Upper Mount Street, Dublin , the owners of The Pod, and MCD Promotions, of Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin. MCD was involved in the promotion of The Chippendales at The Pod the night of the alleged accident on May 27th, 1998.
Ms Whelton claims she slipped on a stairway and fell heavily. On May 16th, 2001, she underwent a below-the-knee amputation. She claims she cannot return to work as a result.The defendants deny the claims and say she did not slip on the stairs and she had consumed alcohol.
Opening the case, Fergus O'Hagan SC, for Ms Whelton, said she had "slipped violently" on the stairs and fell to the bottom. She found out in 2001 she required amputation because the pain in the limb was so bad.
Ms Whelton is claiming some €1 million in special damages, including some €94,000 for loss of earnings to date and €200,000 for future loss of earnings as well as the cost of a specially adapted house in the region of €395,000.
The case before Mr Justice Vivian Lavan continues today.