A man whose nose was broken by a closing electronic door at Dublin Airport, has been awarded €19,000 in damages arising from a personal injury* claim taken against Aer Lingus.

Judge Jacqueline Linnane of the Circuit Court was told that the man and his wife were on their way to a holiday in Tenerife when the incident occurred at Gate 106 at Terminal 1 in January 2011. The Court was told that the electronic door at Gate 106 was opened by an Aer Lingus flight attendant. The door was automatically timed to stay open for 30 minutes however boarding could take up to 40 minutes.

The Judge was told by the man’s barrister that instead of boarding the plane for a flight to the sun, the man, accompanied by his wife, was taken by ambulance to Beaumont Hospital where an X-ray revealed his nose had been broken. They were able to resume their holiday two days later but the court was told the holiday was ruined.

Judge Jacqueline Linnane, awarded the man €19,000 in damages against the airline and said that there had been no defect found in the door. She also said that “If Aer Lingus had felt at any stage that the 30-minute electronic time gap for boarding purposes was insufficient, they should have asked the airport authority to extend it”.

David Walley + Co Solicitors have many years successful experience advising clients in injury claims.

*In contentious business a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.