A Dragonara Casino slot machine attendant has been awarded more than €42,000 in damages after a court ruled that she had suffered a permanent disability at work.

Lucienne Cassar told the Court she had to empty the slot machines from their coins once a week. The coins were stored in a tub, known as a hopper, in the machine. To remove the hopper, the employees had to kneel and give it a slight jolt.

Ms Cassar had been carrying out this work when she injured her right hand and her back in July 2001. She was taken to hospital where her hand was put in plaster.

The court heard that the hopper, when full of coins, weighed around 20 kilos.

Mr Justice Silvio Meli found that Ms Cassar had suffered a permanent disability and could not lift heavy items. She could not stand for long periods of time, nor could she hold her child who she had delivered by caesarian section as a result of her back pain.

The court found that the Dragonara Casino, which was then operated by the Barriere Group, was responsible for the injury suffered by Ms Cassar for it had not offered its employees suitable practices to follow when emptying the slot machines.

The court awarded Ms Cassar €42,622 in damages.

The sum included €8,000 to compensate Ms Cassar for the suffering she had gone through.

The Barriere Group are not the current operators of the Casino.