Aer Lingus crew member settles High Court claim over alleged airbridge fall

A member of Aer Lingus ground crew who allegedly fell and injured herself while walking on an airbridge in Dublin Airport has settled her High Court action over what a judge was told was “a simple accident”. Deirdre Fitzpatrick Lally (54) of Beechwood, Kinsealy, Malahide, Co Dublin, sued Aer Lingus and the airport operator, DAA plc, over the accident at the tunnel of an airbridge - which joins the plane to the terminal - at Gate 426 in Terminal 2 on November 26th, 2017. She claimed that after entering the tunnel of the airbridge she was caused or permitted to be thrown forward and fall. She claimed she fractured her right elbow and suffered a soft tissue injury to her left foot in the accident. She claimed there was, among other things, a failure to ensure the airbridge was free from defects and/or hazards and a failure to take all reasonable care for her safety while carrying out her work. The defendants denied the claims. The case was due to be heard before Mr Justice Tony O’Connor on Wednesday when, following talks, the judge was told by John FitzGerald SC, for Fitzpatrick Lally, that the matter could be disposed of.<br/>