Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Niall Carson via PA Images

Woman (80) awarded €67k after overhead luggage fell on her on Ryanair plane

The bag had struck the woman on her face, neck and shoulder.

An 80-YEAR-OLD woman, who suffered a life-changing experience when a piece of overhead luggage had fallen on her on a Ryanair plane, has been awarded €67,000 damages against the airline.

Circuit Court President Justice Raymond Groarke had heard that Phyllis Brady of Inishmann Road, Gaeltacht Park, Whitehall, Dublin 9, had been returning from Malaga in October 2015 when she had been hit by a bag after the plane had just landed at Dublin Airport.

Judge Groarke heard that a heavy bag had fallen on her when another passenger had opened the overhead locker. The bag had struck Brady on her face, neck and shoulder.

Liability had been conceded by Ryanair and the court was being asked to assess the amount of damages due to Brady.

She told her counsel Michael Byrne SC, that following the incident she had suffered pain to her right shoulder and temple. She said she had felt dizzy and had to stop numerous times on her way to the medical officer in the airport.

Prior to the accident she had been very active and independent and said the incident had compromised her considerably. She had no longer been able to carry out household and life tasks to her usual standard.

Judge Groarke, in awarding her €35,000 damages for pain and suffering; €30,000 special damages and €2,366 for expenses, said that prior to the accident Brady had an “extraordinarily active life”. She had been able to carry out all domestic chores and gardening and her independence had been treasured greatly by her.

He said that although Brady was a very young 80 she had a difficult time in the last three and a half years. He said she had remained optimistic and had done her best to get on with her life.

Judge Groarke said had a tear in her shoulder prior to the luggage having hit on the plane but it had been very likely she had suffered no symptoms until after the accident.

He said she had undergone a life-changing experience and she had been living with pain on a daily basis.

Barrister Andrew Walker, who appeared with Audrey Mc Ginley of Ronan Daly Jermyn Solicitors for Ryanair, asked the court for a stay on order on the basis that €35,000 be paid out to Brady.

Judge Groarke said Ryanair was entitled to a stay and directed that Brady, in the meantime, be paid out €45,000. He said Brady’s doctor had not been able to suggest an any more pleasant picture than what he had described in his judgment.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Author
View 18 comments
Close
18 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adele Sheehan
    Favourite Adele Sheehan
    Report
    Dec 25th 2017, 10:21 AM

    Oh God, hope they’re okay

    335
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Leitrim303
    Favourite Leitrim303
    Report
    Dec 25th 2017, 6:50 PM

    @Adele Sheehan: how can be ok when they are bodies. RIP

    75
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John O'Shea
    Favourite John O'Shea
    Report
    Dec 25th 2017, 7:04 PM

    @Leitrim303: the comment was made 9 hours ago you simpleton.

    307
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dlow Brown
    Favourite Dlow Brown
    Report
    Dec 25th 2017, 7:17 PM

    @Leitrim303: well done Leitrim.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Red Devil
    Favourite The Red Devil
    Report
    Dec 25th 2017, 11:21 AM

    Christmas is not always a happy time for people please spare a thought for those…….and for the emergency services who are away from their families dealing with whatever comes at them
    Hopefully not as bad as it sounds this story

    295
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Penney Mortimer
    Favourite Penney Mortimer
    Report
    Dec 25th 2017, 2:17 PM

    The rainfall yesterday in this area was horrendous . Roads and bridges treacherous when rainfall high. My thoughts are with the families today . And I don’t think anyone should be passing comment on whether there was drinking or not . It’s really none of our business and we need to take into account that at some stage family and friends may read this post and we need to respect their feelings .

    258
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Murphy
    Favourite Mark Murphy
    Report
    Dec 25th 2017, 12:11 PM

    God love them. There is no right or wrong here. Prayers for the family especially on today’s date

    217
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute OU812
    Favourite OU812
    Report
    Dec 25th 2017, 1:30 PM

    @Mark Murphy: there absolutely is right and wrong.

    But let’s wait for the facts to emerge rather than assume what happened.

    66
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Murphy
    Favourite Mark Murphy
    Report
    Dec 25th 2017, 6:13 PM

    @OU812: what a stupid comment

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Veronica
    Favourite Veronica
    Report
    Dec 25th 2017, 3:09 PM

    Oh god absolutely awful. Devastating news for their families.

    I really appreciate our rescue services, they truly are selfless.

    153
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dean Burroughs
    Favourite Dean Burroughs
    Report
    Dec 25th 2017, 11:40 PM

    @Veronica: selfless… It’s their job. Id say professional certainly not selfless.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ben Dunne
    Favourite Ben Dunne
    Report
    Dec 26th 2017, 11:19 AM

    @Dean Burroughs:
    Bit more than being professional,most of us don’t risk getting killed helping others. I used to take them for granted until Rescue 116 crashed, used to watch it fly over my house several times a day without a second thought and now I can’t help having tremendous respect for people in that field.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tosh Lavery
    Favourite Tosh Lavery
    Report
    Dec 25th 2017, 5:01 PM

    Sad, may they Rest In Peace, and the Family’s find the strength to deal with this tragedy

    97
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Arthur Pewty
    Favourite Arthur Pewty
    Report
    Dec 25th 2017, 5:29 PM

    Rest in peace young men. My sympathies to all families involved. x

    77
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Finnster
    Favourite Finnster
    Report
    Dec 25th 2017, 2:59 PM

    This is terrible news for these poor families. So tragic , it can happen so easy

    92
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute vero
    Favourite vero
    Report
    Dec 25th 2017, 12:41 PM

    Please god they will be ok, horrible news at any time of year but worse for the day thats in it

    77
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute patrickmansfield
    Favourite patrickmansfield
    Report
    Dec 25th 2017, 6:15 PM

    Prayers to the family and friends of both men,very sad news to get on Christmas morning

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute helen walsh
    Favourite helen walsh
    Report
    Dec 25th 2017, 1:33 PM

    There was a lot of fog and bad weather, hope they are found alive. Young men are invincible, hope they hadn’t been drinking. Terrible for the families.

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Chapman
    Favourite Alan Chapman
    Report
    Dec 25th 2017, 2:19 PM

    @helen walsh: I think you meant , young men think they’re invincible. Terrible tragedy at any time of year but especially the day that’s in it . Our thoughts also with all the search and rescue services involved in this.

    73
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Jasper
    Favourite Mark Jasper
    Report
    Dec 25th 2017, 9:32 PM

    Well done to my fellow colleagues in search and rescue for a quick and unfortunate recovery today.

    R.I.P. to the two men

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Siobhan Rosemary
    Favourite Siobhan Rosemary
    Report
    Dec 25th 2017, 7:46 PM

    Shocking

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael O'Neill
    Favourite Michael O'Neill
    Report
    Dec 25th 2017, 11:54 PM

    RIP very sad.

    11
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds