
A case against the Great Southern and Western Railway Company was heard yesterday at Limerick Assizes, where an appeal was made against County Court Judge Adams’ decision favoring plaintiff William White, a bookmaker, who was awarded damages for an assault committed on him by the railway company’s servants. White claimed that on the evening of October 30th, he intended to travel from Limerick to Dublin on the night mail and arrived at the station a few minutes before departure. He found the carriage doors locked and climbed through the window to board the train. Railway checker McDonnell acknowledged White’s ticket was valid but proceeded, with the assistance of the guard, to forcefully remove White from the carriage, resulting in White injuring his nose when he landed face-first on the platform.
During cross-examination, White admitted using imprecations at the railway officials but denied hurling abuse at the checker. The defence argued that the plaintiff was asked for his ticket after entering the carriage through the window but responded with abuse and refused to provide his name or address. Despite White assaulting McDonnell afterwards, the Lord Chief Justice affirmed the lower court’s decision. He acknowledged McDonnell as a good official but suggested that he may have acted imprudently in handling the situation.
Northants Evening Telegraph – Wednesday 16 July 1902