£42k compensation payout after ceiling falls in on wedding reception

Irish wedding ruined after ceiling caves in on guests at the reception

A bride from Ireland has received a £42,000 compensation payout after the ceiling at the hotel where she held her wedding reception caved in on the party.

The ceiling fell in just as the bride and groom were preparing to take to the floor for their first dance at the Setanta House Hotel in County Kildare, Ireland.

The bride, Joanne Noone, attempted to flee from the room along with the groom and their other guests when they heard loud cracks as the ceiling began to give way. However Ms Noone became trapped under the falling debris and was pinned to the floor by a heavy timber pillar.

After attending hospital the doctors found Ms Noone had sustained soft tissue damage and was complaining of pain in her back, legs and neck. The court also heard that the bride had suffered mild post-traumatic stress after the wedding reception ordeal.

The bride, groom, best man and a number of other wedding guests have filed personal injury claims against the hotel which are due to be heard in front of the court. No one sustained serious injury as a result of the ceiling collapse.

The incident had repercussions for the newlyweds who cancelled their honeymoon to Italy due to the disastrous end to their wedding day.

Footage of the ceiling collapse was viewed in court after which the judge described the incident as “a pretty catastrophic event.” The judge added that is was a blessing no one was seriously hurt, and said he hoped Ms Noone’s trauma would ease with time.