A woman was temporarily blinded when one of her eyes was injured in a holiday accident in Gran Canaria, the Circuit Civil Court has been told. Ms Rosaleen O'Reilly, a SIPTU researcher, of Rockfield Avenue, Perrystown, Dublin, told Judge Liam Devally she was sunning herself by the pool at The Greenfield apartments in Playa Del Ingles when she was struck in the face by a volleyball.
She told her counsel, Mr Michael Tuite, the ball smashed her glasses and injured her good left eye. Her lenses had been specially designed to increase vision in a "lazy" right eye. As a result of the injury, she had been left with only partial vision for the remainder of her holiday.
Judge Devally said the Corona Travel venue had a well-planned and well-run customer care system which broke down on the day due to a culpable lapse in proper supervision. It was foreseeable that some mishap could occur.
He said a boisterous and unsupervised game of volley-ball had been going on in the swimming pool with a ball which was too heavy and unsuitable. The game had continued when sunbathers, including Ms O'Reilly, had gathered close to the pool.
After awarding Ms O'Reilly £5,250 damages against Corona Travel Ltd, Fade Street, Dublin, Judge Devally granted Mr Eanna Molloy, counsel for the holiday firm, a stay to facilitate consideration of an appeal to the High Court.