Inmate sues prison bosses for £10k after hand injury

Posted: August 30, 2014

Posted in: Hand Injuries Workplace Injuries 

An inmate at an open prison has sued prison bosses for £10,000 after a bin lid fell on his hand, causing him injury. 44-year-old Alan McAuley claimed that he seriously injured his hand while throwing rubbish away at Castle Huntly open prison, Dundee, last year. It was heard that he had been with another inmate when the accident happened, Marco Cittadini, who had helped him prop the bin lid open with a mop handle. 

Mr McAuley, a convicted drug dealer, said that he was unable to carry out normal day-to-day activities following the accident on the 9th March 2013. He did, however, admit in his compensation claim at Perth Sheriff Court that he had suffered no long-term damage as a result of the incident.

“No appropriate equipment was available”

In the hearing, Mr McAuley argued that he was an “employee” of the prison when the accident happened. He had been employed by the prison to be part of a team to maintain the gardens and carry out waste disposal.

The writ stated: “A mop handle was used because no appropriate equipment was available to facilitate closure of the skip lid. Suddenly, and without warning, the mop handle slipped from Mr Cittadini’s grip.”

Mr McAuley, a taxi driver from Lanarkshire, was jailed for four years and nine months after being caught with a stash of cocaine in his cab.

If you have suffered an injury at work, and are looking to claim compensation, please contact us. 

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