An employee that sustained a broken wrist injury while participating in a team-building exercise organised by his employer has been awarded compensation outside of court.

Cathal Kavanagh (54), an executive chef in the Carton House Spa and Gold Hotel in Maynooth, County Kildare, attended a team-building day with his colleagues at the Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge, where he sustained his injury.

As part of the event, Cathal was required to participate in a series of games and activities with his coworkers. It was during one of these events-a relay race that saw employees of the four-star hotel running backwards-that Cathal fell. His foot slipped form under him, and he fractured his wrist in an attempt to break his fall. Medical treatment was sought, and he received care for his broken wrist.

Cathal sought legal advice from his solicitor. He made a compensation claim for the injuries sustained on the programme against both Carton House and the organisers of the day, JikiJela Ltd of Tubbercurry, County Sligo. A further claim was made against Kildare County Council, the proprietors of the Riverbank Arts Centre.

The victim claimed that the activities had not been safe for participants, and that all of the parties named were negligent as they failed to ensure that no danger would be present for Cathal or his colleagues. All defendants denied liability for his wrist injury, resulting in the Injuries Board authorising the claim to be heard at the Circuit Civil court to resolve the matter.

However, before the first day of the hearing was complete, Mrs Justive Mary Irvine-the judge presiding the case-was informed that compensation for the injury had been settled outside of court and that the claim could be struck out of court.