A man who claims he slipped in the foyer of a hotel where he had attended a ballroom dance has sued for damages.
Benjamin Stanley (67), a retired council worker and farmer, told the High Court he enjoys ballroom dancing, had attended a dancing event at the Castle Arms Hotel in Durrow, Co Laois, and was walking through the hotel foyer later that night when, he claims, his leg went from under him.
"I did not have a drop of drink taken. I slipped on some matter on the floor," he told Mr Justice Anthony Barr.
Mr Stanley, who hurt his shoulder and later had to have surgery, said he attended the dancing event every Sunday where he could waltz, jive and do the quick step and fox trot.
Mr Stanley of Ballygaddy, Clareen, Birr, Co Offaly, has sued Seosamh Murphy, the owner of the Castle Arms Hotel, and the licensee Dal Riada Taverns Ltd.
He claims that on Easter Sunday, April 12th, 2009, he was caused to slip as he walked through the hotel foyer. He alleges failure to properly monitor or control the condition of the floor.
The defendants deny the claims, say Mr Stanley was rushing and the floor was checked every two hours by staff.
In evidence, Mr Stanley said he attended the afternoon tea dance on Easter Sunday 2009 and also had dinner at the hotel before taking part in the evening ballroom dancing session. The place was full with 200 or 300 people. He had danced with some women from the North and, when they were leaving, he had accompanied them to their car.
He said was on his way across the hotel foyer to go to the toilet when the accident happened. “All of a sudden my left leg went from under me and I fell to the ground.”
He drove home but in the middle of the night called a doctor because he was in pain.
He told the judge he did not see anything on the foyer floor but he would not have slipped if there was not something there. “I felt something under my shoe.” .
Under cross-examination he denied he was rushing to the toilet.
The case continues.