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The Journal
2 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
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
'I thought I was going to die' - former NBC war reporter awarded €17,500 against Irish Ferries over 'harrowing' ferry crossing
Today at 10:02 Former NBC war correspondent Susan Burt has been awarded €17,500 damages against Irish Ferries for what was described in court as 'a hideous and harrowing experience' on the high seas. Ms 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.
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- RTÉ News
Former war correspondent awarded damages after 'hideous and harrowing' ferry sailing
A former NBC war correspondent has been awarded €17,500 damages against Irish Ferries for what was described in court as "a hideous and harrowing experience" while travelling from Cherbourg to Dublin. 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."
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
HSE apologises after girl immunised during Covid-19 with used needle
The HSE has apologised to and compensated a 13-year-old girl who was given a Covid-19 vaccination with an already used needle. Barrister James Cross told Judge Fiona O'Sullivan in the Circuit Civil Court today that Ella Mockler Mulhern, now within six weeks of her 18th birthday, had suffered significantly as a result of the HSE's negligence and breach of duty. Mr Cross, who appeared with James McSweeney Solicitors, Tallaght, for Ella, said when she attended a vaccination centre in Citywest Hotel in Dublin, in August 2021, she was given a vaccination with a needle the nurse had already used on one of three other people. Ella's father Niall Mulhern, of Beech Park, Lucan, Co Dublin, told the court in written evidence that a second vaccination was then administered without discussion with and the consent of either himself or his daughter. He said the nurse involved had denied that the first syringe had been used previously but on his further inquiry from the clinical lead nurse, an investigation had been carried out and it had been confirmed the syringe had been used on another person but the nursing staff had been unable to identify on which one of three other people it had been used on. Mr Cross said Ella had to undergo blood tests and she had to be vaccinated for Hepatitis B. He said at least one of the possible three people who could have been injected with the syringe used on Ella had refused to undergo blood tests and as a result Ella had to undergo a post-exposure antiretroviral therapy course for a month. Judge O'Sullivan heard this had caused Ella to feel acutely unwell with symptoms of nausea. She had been upset and distressed by what had happened and had been unable to attend school for almost a month. Ella had to undergo tests for Hepatitis C and HIV, suffering psychologically as a result and also developed a fear of doctors. Just under a year later, Ella had developed an abscess which had ruptured during her school sports day causing her considerable further distress and which had to be treated with antibiotics. It was not known if this had been due to the treatment she had received in Citywest. Mr Cross said an initial settlement offer of €11,500 by the HSE had been rejected earlier by another judge. This had been followed by an offer of €16,500 and latterly by an offer of €20,000, expenses and legal costs which Mr Cross said he was recommending to the court. Judge O'Sullivan, approving the HSE's final offer, said the injuries associated with what had happened would have had a serious impact on the child and she felt €20,000 compensation was acceptable in the circumstances. Barrister Seamus Breen, counsel for the HSE, read out an apology on behalf of his client during which he said the defendant accepted responsibility for what had happened and pointing out that Ella was blameless for what had occurred. He said the HSE wished Ella every success in her life.
The Journal
6 days ago
- Health
- The Journal
HSE apologises after child given wrong Covid vaccine with a used needle
THE HSE HAS apologised to and compensated a 13-year-old child who was not only injected with a wrong Covid 19 vaccination but found out afterwards that a nurse had treated her with an already used needle. Barrister James Cross told Judge Fiona O'Sullivan in the Circuit Civil Court today that Ella Mockler Mulhern, now within six weeks of her 18th birthday, had suffered significantly as a result of the HSE's triple take on negligence and breach of duty. Mr Cross, who appeared with James McSweeney Solicitors, Tallaght for Ella, said not only had HSE staff administered the wrong vaccination when she attended a vaccination centre in Citywest Hotel, Saggart, Dublin, in August 2021, a nurse had done so with a needle used already on one of three other people. Ella's father Niall Mulhern, of Beech Park, Lucan, County Dublin, told the court in written evidence that the second vaccination had been administered without discussion with and the consent of either himself or his daughter. He said the nurse involved had denied that the first syringe had been used previously but on his further inquiry from the Clinical Lead Nurse an investigation had been carried out it had been confirmed the syringe had been used on another person but the nursing staff had been unable to identify on which one of three other people it had been used. Advertisement Mr Cross said Ella had to undergo blood tests and she had to be vaccinated for Hapatitis B. He said at least one of the possible three people who could have been injected with the syringe used on Ella had refused to undergo blood tests and as a result Ella had to undergo a post-exposure antiretroviral therapy course for a month. Judge O'Sullivan heard this had caused Ella to feel acutely unwell with symptoms of nausea. She had been upset and distressed by what had happened and had been unable to attend school for almost a month. Ella had to undergo tests for Hepatitis C and HIV, suffering psychological sequelae as a result and also developing a fear of doctors. Just under a year later Ella had developed an abscess which had ruptured during her school sports day causing her considerable further distress and which had to be treated with antibiotics. It was not known if this had been due to the treatment she had received in Citywest. Mr Cross said an initial settlement offer of €11,500 by HSE had been rejected earlier by another judge. This had been followed by an offer of €16,500 and latterly by an offer of €20,000, expenses and legal costs which Mr Cross said he was recommending to the court. Judge O'Sullivan, approving of the HSE's final offer, said the injuries associated with what had happened would have had a serious impact on the child and she felt €20,000 compensation was acceptable in the circumstances. Barrister Seamus Breen, counsel for the HSE read out an apology on behalf of his client during which he said the defendant accepted responsibility for what had happened and pointing out that Ella was blameless for what had occurred. He said the HSE wished Ella every success in her life. 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
