A dockyard worker who became a paraplegic after an injury at work in 1993 was yesterday awarded nearly €100,000 damages by a court.

Raymond Barbara, who was 36 at the time, was working the night shift on a ship, the Lobo Elif, which had entered the yard for extensive repairs.

The scaffolding he was on collapsed and he fell a height of five storeys, suffering injuries to his chest, stomach and spine. His injuries were of a permanent nature and he was paralysed.

He had filed an action for damages against Malta Drydocks and, in October of 2008, the government continued the case on behalf of the Drydocks.

Mr Justice Joseph R. Micallef, sitting in the First Hall of the Civil Court, noted it was the duty of the employer to provide a safe system of work for the employees. The employer, therefore, bore a high degree of responsibility at the workplace.

In this case, the court said, there was no doubt Mr Barbara was working in a dangerous environment. However, Mr Barbara was not to blame for the accident and the court held Malta Drydocks and, subsequently, the government, liable in damages.

The court heard Mr Barbara had suffered a 95 per cent permanent disability and awarded him €136,800 damages, from which sum the court deducted €39,957.50, which had already been paid to him by Malta Drydocks.