Carpenter who lost tip of finger in accident awarded over €281k.
A carpenter who lost the tip of a finger in a workplace accident has been awarded €281,500 by the High Court. The accident happened as Jim Connolly, from Dundalk, Co Louth, pushed back a sliding table on a panel saw machine used as part of a FAS course he was on.
Mr Justice Kevin Cross said it is not probable Mr Connolly (39) will be able to return to work as a carpenter again following the accident six years ago.
Mr Connolly was attending a wardrobe and cabinet-making training course at FAS in Dundalk. He was carrying his tool bag and pushed back a sliding panel, which was part of a panel saw machine, in order to walk by it.
The fingers of his left became caught between the edge of the sliding table and the metal plates of the platform. Mr Connolly suffered an injury to his fingers which required amputation of the top of a middle finger on his left hand. He also sustained a laceration to to his ring finger.
He sued FAS for allegedly not providing a safe place of work and the manufacturer of the saw Werkhuizen Landuyt N.V.
Mr Justice Kevin Cross found FAS was two thirds at fault and the saw manufacturer one third at fault. There was, he said no contributory negligence on Mr Connolly’s behalf.