A Dubliner has been awarded $5000 in damages after his genitals were scalded on a Ryanair flight.
Tallaght native Darren Weldon had the tip of his penis burnt when hot tea fell on his lap on a flight from Spain to Ireland.
Weldon received the injuries when a tray collapsed as he travelled on the plane with his cousin.
He told Dublin’s Circuit Civil Court that he was sitting in a middle seat and ordered food and a tea which he placed on the tray in front of him.
The court heard his cousin had stood up to let Darren by to go to the toilet.
When he returned, his cousin held the cup of tea to allow him sit back in the middle. When he placed the cup on the tray in front of his own seat, the tray collapsed.
Hot tea splashed over his jeans and Weldon claimed in his Civil Bill that he was ‘scalded to his genital’ area and ‘burned to the tip’ of his penis.
The Irish Sun reports that Weldon requested assistance from staff and went to the toilet to apply cold water to his injuries.
He was treated for his injuries at Tallaght hospital on his return to Dublin.
Weldon’s legal team told the court that before the incident, he had notified an air hostess that the tray was faulty.
Ryanair denied liability and claimed there had been some horseplay between the two cousins before the incident in August 2007. It also denied the tray was broken before taking off.
Justice Matthew Deery, awarding Mr Weldon damages, said once it had become aware the tray was faulty, the airline crew should have marked it to prevent people using it.
10 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Scrivner | May 23, 2012, 06:42 PM EDT
This is why Yanks prefer iced tea--maybe stain, but no pain.
mandrake | May 23, 2012, 04:54 PM EDT
No frills? this is ridiculous not even a teaspoon to stir your tea!
IrelandNorth | May 23, 2012, 06:17 AM EDT
Your headline caused me to envisage Michael O'Le[e]ry flicking a cigarette lighter under some passengers pubes in those impossible airline toilets - which can castrate a male if flushed whist seated due to forceful pressure. Surely calling a pretty former east-bloc babe for assistance could have inflated (ahem!) the problem. Looks like Ryanair the now the no [th]rills airline.
irishpjk | May 22, 2012, 09:39 PM EDT
Could you give me the air craft and seat number I will be flying with Ryanair this summer, and with my pair I could double that amount.
100thApefrom58 | May 22, 2012, 07:15 PM EDT
Wow ! whats with all the "Irish" Bit's in a sling ? There is another article about female genital mutilation on right now as well ? Native's best be sitting on a shamrock with Your legs crossed 24/7..sheesh ..?
seanomelb | May 22, 2012, 05:23 PM EDT
O'Leary really does have penis envy.
Murph46 | May 22, 2012, 04:39 PM EDT
They have been selling Hot Nuts on Ryanair ever since!
SingleDonald | May 22, 2012, 12:34 PM EDT
JimmieM, I thought of that too! jamieLM, I remember the McDonald's case. A lawyer later told a group I was in that we all read the initial story. What we don't read is the result of the appeal. It turns out that the laibility to McDonald's was greatly reduced, on appeal.
jamieLM | May 22, 2012, 11:03 AM EDT
Reminds me of the woman who put a cup of hot coffee from MacDonalds between her legs while riding in a car. She also cashed in. Maybe the tray was faulty, but you'd think adults would know to be extra careful when handling hot liquids, especially on a plane that can experience turbulence at any time.
JimmieM | May 22, 2012, 10:47 AM EDT
I think the tea would have cooled off while he was going to the bathroom?...maybe he picked up an easy $5,000.