A 76-year-old Tipperary woman, Ms Eileen Britton, has failed in her claim against the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney, after slipping as she left the ballroom floor during an annual event known as the Lisdoonvarna Gathering, some five years ago.
At around 1.50am on the morning of Saturday November 27th in 2009, Ms Britton of Twomileborris, Thurles, Co Tipperary; then aged 71 years, had been leaving the dance floor, in the company of her husband, when she slipped and fractured her left wrist in two places.
Judge James O’Donohoe, sitting at the Circuit Civil Court in Tralee and who had adjourned this case from last Thursday in Killarney, for judgement having heard evidence for some three hours, found in favour of the Killarney hotel establishment.
Ms Britton, who admitted she was wearing dancing shoes with three-inch high heels, maintained the floor was unusually slippy and she had seen other people also slipping. The Gleneagle Hotel had vehemently denied accusations of using any form of dance powder on its floor, stating it was against the strict policy of the hotel to use any such substances on their maple floor, latter substances normally used in an effort to aid the easy foot movements of those dancing.
Summing up today Judge O’Donohoe stated that the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney was a very well run establishment and was equally well maintained and Ms Britton, he stated, was involved in a somewhat hazardous activity, given her age.
Judge James O’Donohoe also awarded costs against Ms Britton.
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