Alan Farrell, a Member of Parliament for the Fine Gael Party, along with his landlords Val and Mary Keating, are facing a personal injury lawsuit after an alleged slip and fall incident near Farrell’s constituency office in Malahide, Dublin. The plaintiff is Barry McGrath, a semi-retired businessman from Portmarnock, Dublin. McGrath alleges that negligence on the part of at least one of the defendants resulted in his fall down a flight of steps after he had exited Farrell’s office. He asserts that the fall caused injury to his left knee, which had previously been surgically replaced in 2014.
McGrath is seeking damages of up to €60,000 from the three defendants, all of whom have so far denied liability. Post the incident, McGrath was taken to Beaumont Hospital, where he received treatment. He alleges the fall severely twisted his knee and caused injury to soft tissue, requiring steroid injections from his general practitioner.
The case, represented by Barrister Louise T Fogarty on behalf of McGrath, was intended for a July trial court. But due to an error made when scheduling the case, a hearing for the trial was postponed until next month by Judge Michael Walsh during a session in the Circuit Civil Court on Thursday. No defendants were present at Thursday’s court hearing. Nor was McGrath, who all have submitted a comprehensive defence to his claim.