A man who fractured his wrist on a "boxing machine" in a pub got $ 30,000 worth of damage

An official who fractured his wrist when he hit a bullet in a boxing machine in a Dublin pub was compensated for up to € 30,000 in damages against the Flannery sports bar in Camden Street.

Liam Murphy (31) of The Dale, Woodpark, Ballinteer, Dublin 16, told the Circuit Civil Court that, after watching the final of the Irish Cork-Clare event on September 8, 2013, his friend and him had visited Flannery where a group of sports fans were competing hitting the ball.

Murphy's lawyer, Fintan Hurley's attorney, said there was a boxing machine in the bar and that if you paid $ 1, a ball fell. Hitting the ball recorded a score based on the strike force.

Murphy had been competing with a number of people and had hit the ball seven or eight times. Mr. Hurley, who appeared with Denis Linehan from Charleville to Cork, told Judge Jacqueline Linnane that no typing glove was provided for protective purposes.

The court heard that the day after the contest, Murphy's right hand and wrist were painful and that he went to a doctor who had directed him to St. Vincent's Hospital where he was reported to have broken the scaphoid. law. He had to undergo an operation as a result of an injury and had been in a bandage for several weeks.

Dr. Hurley has published several articles in health journals highlighting research on fractures caused by "test your strength" ball machines. An expert said that there had been a growing number of scaphoid fractures attributable to the use of these striking machines that are commonly found in amusement parks and parks. pubs.

The article pointed out that fractures caused by these machines, even if they were diagnosed and treated quickly, did not always unite. An article mentioned an awareness of anecdotes reporting injuries sustained by hitting these bullets across the UK.

He said that the combination of alcohol and peer group pressure could conspire to cause serious injury and that coffee owners need to be aware of the risks badociated with these machines.

Mr. Murphy, who told the court that he had drunk a few drinks while watching the Irish final, filed a lawsuit against Camden Street Taverns Limited, trading between Flannery's and Halpol Limited, South William Street, Dublin, suppliers of the boxer machine as a third party and who did not appear.

David Semple, forensic engineer, said that the machine had been supplied to a department store selling drinks and that it was inevitable that people would feel obliged to try to hit the ball to see what score could to be obtained.

Flannery's lawyers told the court that the plaintiff should have realized that the machine was only a game and that it should not have been used in a very competitive manner .

Judge Linnane, who stated that it was not appropriate to dispose of such a machine in a public house, awarded Murphy 30,000 euros in damages and his legal costs. . The court granted Flannery leave to seek compensation or a contribution from Halpol Limited.

The outcome of the case will likely prompt pubs, clubs and carnivals to re-examine the risk and safety aspects badociated with the use of such a machine in their premises.

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