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Limerick Residents Triumph in Titanic Liability Case | Limerick Archives

Limerick Residents Triumph in Titanic Liability Case

In a landmark decision, the Court of Appeal in London has ruled in favour of the relatives of four Irish emigrants who perished in the tragic Titanic disaster. The Oceanic Navigation Company Ltd., the entity operating the ill-fated liner, faced appeals under Lord Campbell’s Act, with the plaintiffs hailing from different parts of Ireland—Thomas Ryan from Askeaton, Limerick; Denis T. O’Connell from Cork; John Scanlon from Rathkeale, Limerick; and Mary O’Brien, a widow from Caheragh.

The damages were a point of agreement between the parties, leaving the primary question before the court to be the liability of the Oceanic Company. In a unanimous decision, judgment was entered for the plaintiffs in all four cases. The key findings of the jury centred around the excessive speed of the vessel at 21 knots during the disaster and the adequacy of the company’s notification of exemption clauses to passengers.

The jury held that the speed at which the Titanic was travelling was negligently excessive, a critical factor contributing to the disaster. Additionally, they found that certain exemption clauses on passengers’ tickets, absolving the company from liability for the negligence of its crew, were not adequately communicated to the holders in three of the cases. However, in the case of Mary O’Brien, the company was deemed to have sufficiently brought the conditions to the holder’s attention.

A significant legal point arose when the judge ruled, as a matter of law, that the company could not successfully use the exemption clauses as a defence since they had not been approved by the Board of Trade under the Merchant Shipping Act of 1894.

The appeal, which spanned ten days in November, involved rigorous arguments from both sides, and the court’s decision represents a substantial victory for the plaintiffs.

Exemption Clauses Deemed Invalid

Lord Justice Vaughan Williams emphasized that the exemption clauses at the back of the passenger tickets were not an integral part of the contract and were inconsistent with the portion of the contract sanctioned by the Board of Trade. He argued that the practice of maintaining speed did not justify the vessel continuing its course and speed in the face of known dangers, such as warnings of icebergs. In light of the evidence presented, the jury’s finding of negligence was deemed justified, rendering the exemption clause invalid.

Debating Negligence and Ticket Conditions

Lord Justice Buckley, while acknowledging that the defendants did not contravene Board of Trade regulations by placing exemption clauses on the ticket, argued that in O’Brien’s case, the condition was insufficiently brought to the ticket-holder’s attention. However, he expressed disagreement on the question of negligence, suggesting that the jury had been misdirected on the effects of expert evidence regarding icebergs. Despite this misdirection, Lord Justice Buckley agreed with the majority that it did not warrant a new trial, as it did not pertain to a point of law.

Lord Justice Kennedy concurred with Lord Justice Vaughan Williams, and a stay of execution was granted on terms regarding a portion of the costs pending a potential appeal to the House of Lords.

This ruling not only serves as a significant legal precedent but also highlights the enduring impact of one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history. As the legal battles unfold, the quest for justice for the victims of the Titanic disaster remains at the forefront of the legal arena.

Irish Independent – Tuesday 10 February 1914

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