Scaffolding Fall Injury Compensation for Good Samaritan Approved

A man, who sustained catastrophic head injuries when he fell from scaffolding while trying to help his brother fix his roof, has had a scaffolding fall injury compensation settlement of 750,000 Euros approved at Dublin´s High Court.

Patrick Rayner, of Mitchelstown, County Cork, was getting prepared to assist his brother replace slates which had been displaced from his roof when the accident occurred in December 2008. While standing on top of a scaffolding tower, Patrick was attempting to take hold of a roofing ladder which was being passed to him when he fell three metres to the ground – sustaining a fractured skull and leaving him with a deficit of smell and taste and a loss of hearing.

Through his wife, Julia, Patrick made a claim for fall from scaffolding compensation against his brother – John Rayner of Killmallock, County Limerick – claiming that John had failed to ensure that the scaffold tower was secured to the building or other permanent structure, was negligent in failing to strut or brace the scaffolding tower and had failed to take adequate precautions to ensure his safety while he was assisting with the roof repairs.

At the High Court, Ms Justice Mary Irvine heard that damages had been agreed at 750,000 Euros and the case was before her for approval of damages only. After hearing of Patrick´s injuries, the judge approved the settlement of scaffolding fall injury compensation, stating that this was a case in which a Good Samaritan deed had ended in tragedy.