A retired plumber had his face slashed in two places against the door of an ambulance when his stretcher tilted, a court has been told. Judge Bryan McMahon heard that wheelchair-bound Mr Frank Roberts (74), Fassaugh Road, Cabra, Dublin, was left with two furrowed scars in his face as a result of the slip.
Engineer Mr Barry Tennyson told the Circuit Civil Court only two ambulance men had attempted to lift the 16-stone Mr Roberts, who had been strapped to a six-stone trolley stretcher. "A 22-stone lift requires four helpers in accordance with set regulations," he told Mr Eugene Gleeson, counsel for Mr Roberts.
Judge McMahon awarded Mr Roberts £10,000 damages against the Eastern Health Board. He said Mr Roberts had been left with permanent facial scarring.