Buncrana pier victims family being sued

Kristopherus · 26-03-2018 6:00pm

iamwhoiam wrote: »

Wow . I didn't know a bystander could sue for being upset after a crash.
My first thought would be that I was very lucky to be able to help .

OK, But would you be affected watching 5 people drown mere feet away from you?

Dregro · 26-03-2018 6:01pm

MOD - you can take that attitude elsewhere - consider this a warning

AndyBoBandy

the_pen_turner · 26-03-2018 6:02pm

Kristopherus wrote: »

OK, But would you be affected watching 5 people drown mere feet away from you?

she probably also saw them scrambling to escape

Corruptedmorals · 26-03-2018 6:07pm

I'm fairly sure her job is carrying out ECGs and other cardiac tests in a hospital's cardiology department. If she does this for A&E patients she would see considerable trauma regularly. Not a nurse, but a lot of hands-on care of patients.

I can't understand the mindset of the person who would do this and the solicitor who would accept it. No decency.

SEPT 23 1989 · 26-03-2018 6:08pm

I suppose having to change her name and emigration will be worth it?

<snip> behaviour altogether

cantdecide · 26-03-2018 6:09pm

the_pen_turner wrote: »

she probably also saw them scrambling to escape

Her [very real] misery and hardship is not a drop in the ocean compared to the suffering of the family. What could she possibly gain or regain from this that wouldn't come at greater cost to a family that have suffered so much as it is.

Things happen in life that change us. We don't get to sue for it, especially when the subject of proceedings have lost so much more than us. It wouldn't even occur to most people.

Trigger Happy · 26-03-2018 6:11pm

Kristopherus wrote: »

OK, But would you be affected watching 5 people drown mere feet away from you?

But is that cause to sue? Surely then anyone in new york on 9/11 would be suing left right and centre because of what they saw...

26-03-2018 6:11pm

Can't imagine she'll have m/any friends now.

Just outed herself as an extremely selfish, low, person. Who would want to associate with her.

Yakult · 26-03-2018 6:16pm

Hold on, it was the then boyfriend who went into the water and retrieved the baby.

She just stood there and held the baby until emergency services arrived!!

WTF is wrong with this world?
Throw this **** and her into a bin please and let the family move on.

Yakult · 26-03-2018 6:17pm

the_pen_turner wrote: »

she probably also saw them scrambling to escape

She didn't see ****. It wasn't her who went into the water to rescue the child. :rolleyes:

the_pen_turner · 26-03-2018 6:17pm

cantdecide wrote: »

Her [very real] misery and hardship is not a drop in the ocean compared to the suffering of the family. What could she possibly gain or regain from this that wouldn't come at greater cost to a family that have suffered so much as it is.

Things happen in life that change us. We don't get to sue for it, especially when the subject of proceedings have lost so much more than us. It wouldn't even occur to most people.

i dont knowbut she must feel she has something to gain.

i can see how she could be very seriously effected physologically. maybe it stopped her working. i dont know. the artical gives no reasoning for he actions.

McMurphy · 26-03-2018 6:17pm

Cornelius Crow wrote: »

I didn’t see anywhere in the article that says she is a nurse. She’s described as a cardiac physiologist (whatever the fook that is) No record of a Stephanie Knox registered with the UK NMC or the NMBI.

Not condoning her actions for one moment, but nurses are human too, the trauma she and Davitt Walsh witnessed was horrific, anyone would struggle and I am sure all of the EMS involved were offered support/debriefing in the aftermath. Regardless of her profession however, the decision to sue the family is disgraceful.

The emergency services (the likes of fire service, the Gards and health workers) are usually the first people at the scene of such tragic circumstances, and occasionally priests etc.

What would society come to if they all started suing because of trauma witnessed because they did their jobs?

the_pen_turner · 26-03-2018 6:19pm

Yakult wrote: »

She didn't see ****. It wasn't her who went into the water to rescue the child. :rolleyes:

really. wow thats crazy. i havnt followed the story closely

GavRedKing · 26-03-2018 6:19pm

I had to read the article as it wasn't clear but my understanding from the accident was that a man rescued to the child, from news reports at the time.

Why isn't he suing too or is he actually a decent bloke just delighted to be able to help at least save 1 life.

Kevwoody · 26-03-2018 6:20pm

Dont know where everyone is getting the idea she's suing the car insurance company?
It clearly says in the article she's suing Mr McGrottys estate, and presented a claim directly to the deceased mans father.

26-03-2018 6:23pm

iamwhoiam wrote: »

Wow . I didn't know a bystander could sue for being upset after a crash.
My first thought would be that I was very lucky to be able to help .

from what I saw when i worked for an insurance company, this is minor.

people claiming compensation from the families of deceased people, or their insurance company at least, is pretty common.

screamer · 26-03-2018 6:23pm

Jesus wept. But karma's a bitch.

NIMAN · 26-03-2018 6:23pm

.... Edited due to incorrect info

Conor Bourke · 26-03-2018 6:23pm

iamwhoiam wrote: »

Nurses and medics and ambulance people are human of course . But they are better able to cope because of their profession . I once came across a horrible accident and till this day am so proud I could help . I came home and cried and shook and was terribly upset . At no stage would it enter my head to make it about me or burden a family even more
My god I am stunned that anyone would do that

The assumption that nurses/ems workers are somehow more immune to suffering than the average person is incorrect. They might be good at keeping a cool head in a crisis and working hard to save lives in the heat of the moment but they’re affected whether you realise it or not. Individually some are better at rationalising it, some have excellent support systems provided by their employers to help them process the emotional impact but at times many share your exact experience of being glad to help but upset, tearful, shaken by what they witness.

Anyway, all of that appears to be irrelevant in this incidence as Ms. Knox is not on either the UK or Irish nursing registers as far as I can see.

26-03-2018 6:23pm

Kevwoody wrote: »

Dont know where everyone is getting the idea she's suing the car insurance company?
It clearly says in the article she's suing Mr McGrottys estate, and presented a claim directly to the deceased mans father.

who will then pass it straight on to the insurance company.

McMurphy · 26-03-2018 6:24pm

Kevwoody wrote: »

Dont know where everyone is getting the idea she's suing the car insurance company?
It clearly says in the article she's suing Mr McGrottys estate, and presented a claim directly to the deceased mans father.

I was just about to post same.

The father made that very clear in the article.

Mr Noel McGrotty, aged 86, confirmed he received a letter on behalf of Ms Knox on the eve of the second anniversary of the tragedy recently.

He confirmed the claim is for an undisclosed amount of money for loss of earnings and other matters.

Mr McGrotty told the Derry News that he does not know why the legal letter arrived at his home as he is not the executor of his late son’s estate.

Trigger Happy · 26-03-2018 6:27pm

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

I was just about to post same.

The father made that very clear in the article.

You can only sue an insurance company for something like them refusing to honor a contract you have with them - eg not paying a valid claim.
Otherwise you sue the people, or estate of those you believe are responsible.
The insurance company may end up paying out at the end of the day if the claim is awarded and covered...but you dont sue them.

kerry cow · 26-03-2018 6:28pm

Like ,I am shocked to read back over previous posts and it been news to me that the driver was 3 times over the legal limit .
What are people thinking .
I wouldn't reverse my car out the drive and back in again if I had a smell of it .

NIMAN · 26-03-2018 6:30pm

kerry cow wrote: »

Like ,I am shocked to read back over previous posts and it been news to me that the driver was 3 times over the legal limit .
What are people thinking .
I wouldn't reverse my car out the drive and back in again if I had a smell of it .

I stand corrected, she sued the council for a slippy path

Conor Bourke · 26-03-2018 6:31pm

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

The emergency services (the likes of fire service, the Gards and health workers) are usually the first people at the scene of such tragic circumstances, and occasionally priests etc.

What would society come to if they all started suing because of trauma witnessed because they did their jobs?

Where did I say that they would or should? I’m appalled at what she’s doing, but yet again i must point out that it’s irrelevant as she’s not a registered nurse and I don’t know where people are getting this from as in the article it says she’s a cardiac physiologist.

theteal · 26-03-2018 6:35pm

A week early for these kind of stories?

NIMAN · 26-03-2018 6:35pm

It's the way of the world I'm afraid, where there is a quick buck to be made, people will take it.

iamwhoiam · 26-03-2018 6:35pm

Cornelius Crow wrote: »

The assumption that nurses/ems workers are somehow more immune to suffering than the average person is incorrect. They might be good at keeping a cool head in a crisis and working hard to save lives in the heat of the moment but they’re affected whether you realise it or not. Individually some are better at rationalising it, some have excellent support systems provided by their employers to help them process the emotional impact but at times many share your exact experience of being glad to help but upset, tearful, shaken by what they witness.

Anyway, all of that appears to be irrelevant in this incidence as Ms. Knox is not on either the UK or Irish nursing registers as far as I can see.

I know they are not immune to suffering ? I never said they were ? But they are better able to cope on the spot due to training . I know because I am one !
Not once did I say they were immune what I said was they are better able to cope right then . Afterwards they suffer and are traumatised like everyone else
Maybe I put it badly but I was actually speaking as a nurse who is just as human as the next person and that was my exact point

McMurphy · 26-03-2018 6:35pm

Cornelius Crow wrote: »

Where did I say that they would or should? I’m appalled at what she’s doing, but yet again i must point out that it’s irrelevant as she’s not a registered nurse and I don’t know where people are getting this from as in the article it says she’s a cardiac physiologist.

Sorry, I didn't mean to insinuate that that's what you were implying, I was merely pointing out that because of the nature of their jobs, they inevitably would be first on the scene to such tragic incidents, hence why suing for trauma would be far from the norm from them.

iamwhoiam · 26-03-2018 6:40pm

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

Sorry, I didn't mean to insinuate that that's what you were implying, I was merely pointing out that because of the nature of their jobs, they inevitably would be first on the scene to such tragic incidents, hence why suing for trauma would be far from the norm from them.

I agree with you . Nurses and medical staff are by no means immune to being traumatised but the nature of their jobs would overwhelmingly stop them from suing for the trauma

Yakult · 26-03-2018 6:47pm

NIMAN wrote: »

It's the way of the world I'm afraid, where there is a quick buck to be made, people will take it.

Not a chance she will make a penny from this.

Hopefully she loses a nice bit of money too while trying.

**** this sue culture.

Conor Bourke · 26-03-2018 6:48pm

iamwhoiam wrote: »

I know they are not immune to suffering ? I never said they were ? But they are better able to cope on the spot due to training . I know because I am one !
Not once did I say they were immune what I said was they are better able to cope right then . Afterwards they suffer and are traumatised like everyone else
Maybe I put it badly but I was actually speaking as a nurse who is just as human as the next person and that was my exact point

I am one too

I know what you mean, I think we would or at least should have a better understanding or how to manage our own upset in the face of trauma. I’d also like to think that a frontline health care professional would have more dignity than to go suing a family so horribly bereaved. On a most basic level you would expect that their place of work would provide the appropriate supports to allow them to process such an experience.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record here though, Ms. Knox doesn’t appear to be a nurse so it’s really not relevant.

suicide_circus · 26-03-2018 6:48pm

Knowing that the family is suing the council for not putting an anti-moron barrier on the slip way (slippery when wet, who knew?) makes me have less sympathy for them now they are being sued by this gowl.

iamwhoiam · 26-03-2018 6:53pm

Cornelius Crow wrote: »

I am one too I know what you mean, I think we would or at least should have a better understanding or how to manage our own upset in the face of trauma. I’d also like to think that a frontline health care professional would have more dignity than to go suing a family so horribly bereaved. On a most basic level you would expect that their place of work would provide the appropriate supports to allow them to process such an experience.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record here though, Ms. Knox doesn’t appear to be a nurse so it’s really not relevant.

Yes agree with all that . Many a time I came home and watched a tear jerker film so I could cry and let it out !
She is a frontline carer if not a nurse and at some stage would have had some training in dealing with trauma . Regardless though of her job she is a human being who should empathise with an already deeply traumatised family

kerry cow · 26-03-2018 6:53pm

Imo there should be no such BS as , sues this one and that .it has become such a commercialised way of life .
There's right and wrong .end of story .
He drovee his family while braking the law .
That whole event is sad and should be left as it is .
Stop the commercial .

MOH · 26-03-2018 7:02pm

Laneyh wrote: »

Jesus, if that report is accurate she is the lowest of the low

If that report is accurate, she wrapped the bay up. Which is pretty impressive.

KERSPLAT! · 26-03-2018 7:06pm

Would like to read more details on exactly what's happening before ripping shreds from her, it obviously doesn't paint her in a good light though.

QueenRizla · 26-03-2018 7:07pm

suicide_circus wrote: »

Knowing that the family is suing the council for not putting an anti-moron barrier on the slip way (slippery when wet, who knew?) makes me have less sympathy for them now they are being sued by this gowl.

Yeah, him being drunk probably made the car insurance route complicated? So widow sues the council. Be interesting to know if ‘Nurse’ lady is suing widow or car insurance. If the widow got a massive payout from council, nurse might have been advised to do it by the ambulance chasers.

tashiusclay · 26-03-2018 7:16pm

Shocking behavior if her behaviour appears to be what it seems to be at face value. Subscribed, hoping there's more to it than this.

saintsaltynuts · 26-03-2018 7:31pm

She needs a good old rethink about this.Quite a backlash on Social Media already.Could end up a really disliked person in my opinion.

Arghus · 26-03-2018 7:33pm

I'm sure there's more to this than meets the eye, because it makes literally no sense.

I'm waiting for someone to come along here who actually knows something about the law, before I deem her worthy of the pit of fire.

Spanish Eyes · 26-03-2018 7:49pm

I suspect it could be the first of many claims associated with this tragedy. Watch this space.

Partner of drunk driver who tragically slipped his car into the water, has already sued Donegal CC for having a slippy slipway.

Nekarsulm · 26-03-2018 7:51pm

kerry cow wrote: »

Like ,I am shocked to read back over previous posts and it been news to me that the driver was 3 times over the legal limit .
What are people thinking .
I wouldn't reverse my car out the drive and back in again if I had a smell of it .

The drivers blood alcohol level was revealed at the inquest to be 3 times the limit.

There was algae on the slipway, and ironically this was always removed by officials in the past (presumably Council workers, or Harbour Authority , I don't know which)
But in recent times the practice was banned because of environmental concerns about the chemical used to clean the concrete.

strandroad · 26-03-2018 7:54pm

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

I suspect it could be the first of many claims associated with this tragedy. Watch this space.

Partner of drunk driver who tragically slipped his car into the water, has already sued Donegal CC for having a slippy slipway.

How was the slipway lawsuit even entertained, if the car shouldn't be there in the first place, and definitely not with a DUI behind the wheel?

TallGlass · 26-03-2018 8:01pm

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

Would like to read more details on exactly what's happening before ripping shreds from her, it obviously doesn't paint her in a good light though.

She is suing for PTSD or post traumatic stress from it.

Now, if she was in the car then I might say she has a point, from my understanding, she was basically watching there while the car sunk into the water.

All I can say is, no one forced her to watch the car sink and rubberneck like she done. At any stage, she could have decided to walk away. No one asked her to stay and watch or even help.

The last part, she is entitled to do what she is doing, but clearly hasn't thought this one over at all. She is going to get slammed by the community and I have my doubts about this claim being entertained and if it is, the sum of money is not going to be worth the hassle/backlash she will get.

But for me, the main part is the PTSD, she watched and no-one forced her to. The fella on the other hand, watched and decided that he had seen enough and action needed to be taken and went into the water to help. If anyone, he should be the one with PTSD.

26-03-2018 8:07pm

This is what she was reported to have said in March 2016.

She added: “It was very traumatic and difficult to stand on the pier and to watch what was unfolding in front of me. I saw Davitt swimming out to get the baby. I was afraid for his life as well as for the lives of the people in the car. When I saw the car sinking I was afraid that Davitt would dive under the water to try to help the people in the car.

“I shouted at him ‘Davitt come back, Davitt come back’. I could see he was struggling and that he was tiring fast as he held the baby really high up in the air. Just before the car sank there was no noise, no screams, you could hear a pin drop on the pier. I went down the slipway and Davitt handed the baby over to me.

“I went off the slipway and went into the water up to my waist. I didn’t want to go into the water any further in case no-one would get out of the water. I then crawled up the slipway with the baby in my arms. She was not crying and I thought that she was dead.

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/girlfriend-buncrana-hero-davitt-walsh-11080302

Graces7 · 26-03-2018 8:07pm

Nekarsulm wrote: »

The drivers blood alcohol level was revealed at the inquest to be 3 times the limit.

There was algae on the slipway, and ironically this was always removed by officials in the past (presumably Council workers, or Harbour Authority , I don't know which)
But in recent times the practice was banned because of environmental concerns about the chemical used to clean the concrete.

Algae can be cleared with spades/scrapers then power washed. It grows back; repeat. These are not huge areas.

Nekarsulm · 26-03-2018 8:10pm

I'm only making wild guess'es but often one person in a couple would sue the other if they were in a car crash.
I've heard of a wife suing her husband's insurance.
But it pretty much means the husband never drives again, and the wife takes over the driving and they have a nice lump sum into the bargain.

In this cash, it's surprising the partner didn't go that route.
But then again, the Audi could have been in her name, and him a named driver, so as you can't sue yourself, she aimed at the Council.

KERSPLAT! · 26-03-2018 8:12pm

TallGlass wrote: »

She is suing for PTSD or post traumatic stress from it.

Now, if she was in the car then I might say she has a point, from my understanding, she was basically watching there while the car sunk into the water.

All I can say is, no one forced her to watch the car sink and rubberneck like she done. At any stage, she could have decided to walk away. No one asked her to stay and watch or even help.

The last part, she is entitled to do what she is doing, but clearly hasn't thought this one over at all. She is going to get slammed by the community and I have my doubts about this claim being entertained and if it is, the sum of money is not going to be worth the hassle/backlash she will get.

But for me, the main part is the PTSD, she watched and no-one forced her to. The fella on the other hand, watched and decided that he had seen enough and action needed to be taken and went into the water to help. If anyone, he should be the one with PTSD.

While I don't disagree with most of your post, she was hardly fùcking rubbernecking. Don't diminish her part in saving the baby. Sure, anyone would have done the same, but they didn't. She did.

Nekarsulm · 26-03-2018 8:18pm

Graces7 wrote: »

Algae can be cleared with spades/scrapers then power washed. It grows back; repeat. These are not huge areas.

You could with a power washer. Spades not so effective.

Either way, the 4x4's used by fishermen (when they don't use a tractor) would have very different tyres to the typical rubber fitted to Q7's, X5's and Range Rovers.
Massive wide tyres, tarmac thread and low profile, in every way the polar opposite of what you want for grip in slippery conditions.

Buncrana pier victims family being sued

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