Sliema council held responsible for injury in 'dangerous' road

Sliema local council was yesterday ordered to pay damages to a woman who broke her ankle due to a pothole in the road.

The judgment was delivered by the Small Claims Tribunal in the claim filed by Veronica Busuttil against the council.

Peter Borg Costanzi, presiding over the tribunal, heard that in June 2004, Ms Busuttil was walking to her car parked in St Nicholas Street, Sliema. As she got off the pavement onto the road, she twisted her foot when she stepped into a pothole. She was taken to hospital where it was established she had damaged her right ankle.

Ms Busuttil told the tribunal she had to spend time in plaster and six weeks in an ankle brace. She had also undergone six weeks of physiotherapy, but still limped.

The tribunal concluded that both the road and the pavement were in a very bad state of repair, and that it was surprising that there had not been more accidents such as the one suffered by Ms Busuttil.

The council had ignored Ms Busuttil's request to repair the road, and, eventually, one of her friends had carried out the repair works.

Dr Borg Costanzi concluded by finding that the council was responsible for the accident as it had left the road and pavement in a bad state of repair and as a danger to pedestrians.

The local council was ordered to pay Ms Busuttil damages amounting to Lm90.55.