Former war correspondent awarded damages after 'hideous and harrowing' ferry sailing
Susan Burt, 75, told the Circuit Civil Court she feared she was going to die when Irish Ferries vessel MV Epsilon had been tossed around, once lurching to an angle of 33 degrees, in Storm Imogen almost ten years ago.
The court heard that conditions had been so bad the Epsilon had been unable to risk docking anywhere or dropping anchor and had to sail back and forth for 18 hours in what coastal shelter it could find until the storm abated.
"The vessel lurched so violently that people were screaming," Ms Burt had told Judge Christopher Callan who had reserved judgment until today.
"Things were flying through the air, dishes were smashing and furniture sliding up and down decks and cabin floors and when the ship would roll we had to crawl."
Three children and four other adults, including Ms Burt's partner Chris Sawyer, had earlier accepted settlements ranging from €14,500 in the case of the children to €23,000 in Mr Sawyer's claim.
He had been physically injured during the storm.
Ms Burt told her barrister John Wilde Crosbie, who appeared with Evan O'Dwyer of O'Dwyer Solicitors, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, that she had lived through a horrific nightmare. She said the ship would turn over so far after having been hit by huge waves that passengers felt it would capsize.
The Epsilon had docked a day late on 9 February 2016. Ms Burt and her partner had been travelling to visit friends in Co Mayo.
Judge Callan said that while Ms Burt had not, according to psychiatric reports, reached the threshold of having suffered from PTSD, she had nevertheless been exposed to sustained and continuous shock, an experience she should not have had to endure.
"I thought I was going to die. I felt 'this is it'," she had said. "We were being thrown about and our car was absolutely squashed as vehicles criss-crossed the car deck."
When barrister Roisin Haughey, counsel for Irish Ferries, had raised an issue on the amount of legal costs Ms Burt should be awarded considering the lower award for damages in her €60,000 claim, Judge Callan said he felt she should receive full Circuit Court costs.
"In fairness to the plaintiff these unusual proceedings have been going on for quite a long time and the court was impressed with her evidence," Judge Callan said. "She did not in any way exaggerate what had happened to her."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Rumors swirl over girl's terrifying plunge from Disney cruise ship before hero dad leapt into water to save her
RUMORS and theories continue to swirl regarding how a little girl went overboard while on a Disney cruise trip with her family. 4 The girl fell from the fourth deck of the ship on Sunday Credit: Facebook/Kevin Furuta 4 The girl and her dad were rescued by crews after the ship's man overboard detection systems kicked into gear Credit: WTVJ-TV Both the girl and her dad were rescued and brought back to the ship. But, theories are now swirling over how the girl seemingly fell over the rails. Pictures taken on board the ship show plexiglass in front of the railings on the fourth deck. read more on news Some passengers claimed the girl was sitting on the railings, while others on board the ship have heavily disputed the claims. 'She was sitting on the rail and he wanted to take a picture, and she fell off,' Gar Frantz told the NBC affiliate 'We were just on that deck. 'And then you saw them throwing, like, life jackets over the sides and stuff.' Most read in The US Sun Social media users, who claimed they were on board the ship, debunked the theory. One traveler, Monica Shannon, claimed that a crew member told her the child was climbing the railings. The staffer apparently told Shannon that the girl's parents were playing shuffleboard at the time of the accident. Shannon told Broward County cops in Florida told the CBS affiliate The girl's mom cried that her child couldn't swim after realizing what had happened. Shannon claimed the girl's mother was hysterical. The man overboard alarm blared out and rescue crews sprang into action. She was sitting on the rail and he wanted to take a picture, and she fell off Gar Frantz passenger on board the Disney Dream ship Cruise ships must have technology that detects anyone who may have fallen overboard. 'It's a kind of infrared technology; it uses heating and sensors to determine when someone goes over,' lawyer Nicholas Gerson told WTVJ. 'It kind of acts like an alarm system.' The dad treaded water for around 10 minutes before being brought onto the boat. Float rings were thrown into the water as part of the rescue operation. Gail Merrick, who was also on board the vessel, which can carry up to 3,500 passengers, said there was a commotion on board with crew members frantically running around. He gave a thumbs up gesture as he returned to the ship. Travelers praised the cruise workers for the speed of the response. 'The Disney Cruise Line staff were phenomenal, the crew, everybody was on it,' Brenda Tackett told 'You could tell they've practiced this, hopefully have never used it before, but they were great.' The ship, last renovated in 2024, returned to Fort Lauderdale on Monday morning. It is currently on a five-day round trip to The Bahamas. 4 The dad treaded water for around 10 minutes before being brought on to the rescue boat Credit: Facebook/Dewayne Smith 4 The Disney Dream ship (pictured in 2020) returned to Florida on Monday Credit: Getty
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Judge tells major data centre operator €10k settlement isn't enough for electrocuted teen
Judge Sarah Berkeley said in the Circuit Civil Court today Monday that 13-year-old Jessica Twamley had suffered a nasty injury when she touched a live wire A judge has told a major data centre operator that a €10,000 settlement offer is not enough for a teenager who was electrocuted in a derelict building it owns near Lucan, Co Dublin. Judge Sarah Berkeley said in the Circuit Civil Court today Monday that 13-year-old Jessica Twamley had suffered a nasty injury when she touched a live wire hanging from a wall inside the unoccupied building at Newcastle Road, Lucan. 'Leaving a live connection to a derelict building near a residential area was extremely unsafe,' Judge Berkeley said. Barrister James McConnon, counsel for Jessica, of Griffeen Glen Avenue, Lucan, told the court that Jessica and a number of friends had entered the grounds of the property through a hole in a perimeter fence on March 14, 2021. Mr McConnon, who appeared with Keans Solicitors, said that while in the building Jessica had touched an exposed electric wire with both hands and had been electrocuted, suffering injuries to both her hands. He said the grounds and building would have constituted an enticement to children to get inside. Jessica, who will be 18 on September 1st next, though shocked and injured, had managed to make her way home on foot, Mr McConnon said. Stock photo: Getty Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 30th She had sued EdgeConnex Ireland Limited, which has a registered address at South Bank House, Barron Street, Dublin 4, and also of Grange Castle Business Park, Old Nangor Road, Dublin, through her father Philip Twamley. Mr McConnon said EdgeConnex owned the property at Ballymakailey, Newcastle Road, Lucan, but he was unaware of the state of the premises at the moment. Mr Twamley, in written evidence, told the court the building had been unoccupied and derelict and his daughter and her friends had entered through a fence surrounding part of the premises. They had been engaged in taking TikTok videos at the time of the incident. He said that when Jessica had arrived home her mother could see that both her hands had been burned and she had called an ambulance. Jessica had been taken to Crumlin Children's Hospital where she had been treated and detained for observation overnight. Mr McConnon said there were three medical reports before the court and EdgeConnex had proffered a settlement of €10,000. He said the plaintiff would be strong on liability and while there was no specific guidelines for such injuries it was recommended there should be a valuation of between €1,000 and €40,000 for injuries involved with scarring. He said Jessica had been left with marks to her hands which were viewed by Judge Berkeley. 'This young girl has suffered a nasty injury and she has a scar,' Judge Berkeley said. 'I do not think €10,000 is enough.' The proceedings were adjourned by Judge Berkeley to offer the defendant company an opportunity to reconsider the level of its settlement offer.
The Journal
5 days ago
- The Journal
Former NBC war correspondent awarded €17,500 in damages against Irish Ferries after 'harrowing' journey
FORMER NBC WAR correspondent Susan Burt has been awarded €17,500 in damages against Irish Ferries for what was described in court as 'a hideous and harrowing experience' on the sea. Burt (75) told the Circuit Civil Court she feared she was going to die when Irish Ferries vessel MV Epsilon had been tossed around, once lurching to an angle of 33 degrees, in Storm Imogen almost ten years ago during a sailing from Cherbourg to Dublin. The court heard that conditions had been so bad the Epsilon had been unable to risk docking anywhere or dropping anchor and had to sail back and forth for 18 hours in what coastal shelter it could find until the storm abated. 'The vessel lurched so violently that people were screaming,' Burt had told Judge Christopher Callan who had reserved judgment until today. 'Things were flying through the air, dishes were smashing and furniture sliding up and down decks and cabin floors and when the ship would roll we had to crawl.' Three children and four other adults, including Ms Burt's partner Chris Sawyer, had earlier accepted settlements ranging from €14,500 in the case of the children to €23,000 in Mr Sawyer's claim. He had been physically injured during the storm. Advertisement Ms Burt told her barrister John Wilde Crosbie, who appeared with Evan O'Dwyer of O'Dwyer Solicitors, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, that she had lived through a horrific nightmare. She said the ship would turn over so far after having been hit by huge waves that passengers felt it would capsize. Epsilon had docked a day late on 9 February, 2016. Ms Burt and her partner had been travelling to visit friends in Co Mayo. Judge Callan said that while Ms Burt had not, according to psychiatric reports, reached the threshold of having suffered from PTSD, she had nevertheless been exposed to sustained and continuous shock, an experience she should not have had to endure. 'I thought I was going to die. I felt 'this is it,'' she had said. 'We were being thrown about and our car was absolutely squashed as vehicles criss-crossed the car deck.' When barrister Roisin Haughey, counsel for Irish Ferries, had raised an issue on the amount of legal costs Ms Burt should be awarded considering the lower award for damages in her €60,000 claim, Judge Callan said he felt she should receive full Circuit Court costs. 'In fairness to the plaintiff these unusual proceedings have been going on for quite a long time and the court was impressed with her evidence,' Judge Callan said. 'She did not in any way exaggerate what had happened to her.' 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. Learn More Support The Journal
