A laboratory technician who claimed that he received severe burns when nitric acid escaped from a tanker and came in contact with his face was awarded almost £23,000 in damages at the High Court in Dublin yesterday.
Mr Thomas Dillon (28), Station Road, Duleek, Co Meath, had sued Irish Industrial Explosives Ltd (IIEL), Waterloo Road, Dublin, and Henry A. Crosbie (Tanker Leasing) Ltd, North Strand Road, Dublin, for damages after the accident.
He alleged negligence, breach of duty and breach of statutory duty by the defendants.
Mr Dillon claimed that on November 3rd, 1995, he was on the premises of Irish Industrial Explosives Ltd at Enfield, Co Meath, and was standing near a tanker when nitric acid from it struck him in the face.
Although he was wearing protective eye covering at the time, he received acid burns to his face and eyes, he said, and he continued to suffer pain, discomfort, disablement and cosmetic disfigurement.
Both defendants denied the claims. They said that if Mr Dillon did suffer the alleged personal injuries - which they denied - then these were not caused by the defendants. They also maintained that any injuries Mr Dillon suffered were caused or were contributed to by reason of Mr Dillon's own negligence and/or contributory negligence.
In his decision Mr Justice Johnson found IIEL 20 per cent negligent in relation to the accident and the second defendant, Henry A. Crosbie (Tanker Leasing) Ltd, 80 per cent negligent.
He found that there was no contributory negligence on the part of Mr Dillon. He awarded £22,500 damages and £425 in special damages.