The popular restaurant Roly's Bistro has been ordered to compensate a customer who fell and injured her ribs. The woman had claimed that staff had pressurised her group to leave after a birthday luncheon.
Mr Tom Hogan, counsel for Co Dublin woman, Ms Priscilla Healy, said that on St Patrick's Day last year Ms Healy had been attending a birthday celebration lunch with about a dozen friends.
"The party was being put under pressure by the restaurant staff to finish up and hoovering commenced around the vicinity of their table," he told the Circuit Civil Court.
Judge Elizabeth Dunne heard that Ms Healy, on her way to the toilet, had tripped and fell heavily on her side, injuring her rib cage.
Ms Healy, Carrickbrennan Lawn, Monkstown, Co Dublin, said the lunch started at 3 p.m. and her accident occurred between 4.30 and 5 p.m.
"On my way to the ladies I found myself on the floor with the flex of a hoover wrapped around my ankle," she said.
She had felt very sore and winded and the following morning she woke in a lot of pain. While she "figured" she had hurt her rib cage she had felt it would clear up and had not attended her doctor for a couple of weeks.
Ms Healy said the pain travelled from her side into her back and she had been prescribed pain killers and anti-inflammatories.
She was advised to rest and had taken a holiday in May.
The pain had eased but returned when she came back home. She had difficulty doing normal household chores.
Judge Dunne said liability had been conceded by the defendants, Wappinger Food Corporation Ltd, trading as Roly's Bistro, Ballsbridge, Dublin, and Ms Healy had recovered in 10 to 12 weeks.
Awarding €7,700 damages Judge Dunne said that although Ms Healy had undoubtedly suffered pain and discomfort compensation could not be substantial due to the recovery time factor.