Family who were locked in Dublin Airport toilet for 50 minutes get compensation

Ray Managh

A Co Kildare family was locked in a loo for almost an hour at Dublin Airport and had to be rescued by firemen who were forced to break down the door, Judge James O’Donohoe was told in the Circuit Civil Court.

Owen Nolan, his daughter Ailbh (9) and sons, Hugh (5) and Max (2), had been helplessly trapped for 50 minutes as their airline continuously called for them to board their holiday flight to Spain on May 30th 2022, barrister Karen Nolan (no relation) told the court.

Ms Nolan, who appeared with Emily Brown of Newbridge-based Burns Nowlan Solicitors, added that the distressed mother of the children spent her time trying to console her children and stop the plane from taking off without them.

Counsel for the Nolan family, who live at The Avenue, Riverside Manor, Kilcullen, Co Kildare, said the children were becoming more and more stressed after two failed attempts by maintenance staff to get them out of the bathroom that had child and adult facilities.

They had notified staff of their predicament by pulling the emergency cord in the bathroom, and 50 minutes later, were told by firemen to stand back and protect themselves in a corner as the door was “coming in,” barrister Nolan said.

Judge O’Donohoe was told the whole stressful incident had been caused by the inside handle on the door having come off when the family had attempted to get out.

They had eventually just made their flight but their week-long holiday had been impacted by the incident.

The court heard that Ailbhe, a student, was now aged 13, and her brothers were now nine and six, both of whom had settlement offers of €7,000 each ruled earlier by a judge in the District Court.

Counsel for the family said the Dublin Airport Authority had accepted an Injuries Board assessment of €21,000 compensation, inclusive of expenses, for Ailbhe, who had suffered significant distress as a result of the incident. She said Mr Nolan, through whom

Ailbhe had sued the Authority and was satisfied with the offer.

Judge O’Donohoe, approving the assessment, said he considered the amount of compensation as “on the mark.”