A family from Co Kildare were locked inside a toilet at Dublin Airport for close to an hour and had to be freed by firefighters who broke down the door, Judge James O’Donohoe heard in the Circuit Civil Court, reports Breaking News.
Owen Nolan, his daughter Ailbh (9) and sons Hugh (5) and Max (2) were trapped for 50 minutes while their airline repeatedly called them to board their holiday flight to Spain on May 30th 2022, barrister Karen Nolan (no relation) told the court, reports Breaking News.
Ms Nolan, who appeared alongside Emily Brown of Newbridge-based Burns Nowlan Solicitors, said the children’s distressed mother tried to comfort them while also attempting to prevent the plane from departing without them.
Representing the Nolan family, of The Avenue, Riverside Manor, Kilcullen, Co Kildare, counsel said the children became increasingly anxious after two unsuccessful efforts by maintenance staff to release them from the bathroom, which catered for both adults and children, reports Breaking News.
The court heard that the family had alerted staff to their situation by pulling the emergency cord, and 50 minutes later firefighters instructed them to move to a corner and shield themselves as the door was “coming in,” barrister Nolan said.
Judge O’Donohoe was informed that the ordeal occurred because the internal door handle had detached when the family tried to leave the toilet, reports Breaking News.
Although they ultimately managed to board their flight, it was said their week-long holiday was affected by the experience.
The court was told that Ailbhe, now a 13-year-old student, and her brothers, now aged nine and six, had previously received District Court approval for settlement offers of €7,000 each, reports Breaking News.
Counsel stated that the Dublin Airport Authority had accepted an Injuries Board assessment awarding €21,000 in compensation, including expenses, to Ailbhe, who experienced significant distress as a result of the incident. She said Mr Nolan, through whom
Ailbhe had taken the case against the Authority and was content with the settlement.
Approving the award, Judge O’Donohoe said he regarded the compensation figure as “on the mark.”
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