Chef who cut his hand while the oyster chipping received 75k €

The High Court awarded 75,000 euros to a chef who cut his hand while leaving an oyster in a restaurant.

Judge Kevin Cross stated that Jennifer Donohue, who was opening an oyster with a knife, had a deep tear in her left hand and was subsequently operated on. She was in a cast for several weeks.

Jennifer Donohoe, Mount Olive Road, Kilbarrack, Dublin sued Dorans On The Pier, West Pier, Howth, County of Dublin, following the accident of November 23, 2014.

It stated that it was not ensured that the appropriate tools or knives were available for the specific task of oyster shelling and in particular not to have provided this tool.

It was further alleged that the employees, and in particular Mrs Donohue, had failed to adequately train or supervise the practice of oyster shelling in all cases.

Liability was admitted in the case and it was submitted to the damage badessment only.

In his judgment, Judge Kevin Cross stated that Ms. Donohue had worked all her life as a chef at the Howth restaurant at the time.

She was cutting oysters and holding, he said, what had been accepted by the defendants as an inappropriate knife when she sliced ​​off her left hand.

The wound was dressed at the pharmacy but she later went to the hospital and had to undergo an operation.

The judge said the laceration was deep and that she needed 19 stitches and that she was in a cast for four to six weeks.

Judge Cross testified that Ms. Donohoe returned to work and then held a position as a chef in another institution. He said that she was well motivated in relation to work.

His complaints concerned the lack of sensations around the left hand injury and the cold reaction.

She also stated that the judge had difficulty opening and closing the buttons.

Ms. Donohue, he said, did not exaggerate his injuries.

The judge who granted a suspension of € 50,000 was paid immediately.