Malta Freeport Terminals Ltd was yesterday ordered to pay nearly €109,000 in damages to an employee who was injured in a crane accident eight years ago.

Patrick Gatt, who had been employed as an equipment operator, was 35 at the time of the accident.

On May 11, 2005, three weeks after commencing training to use a forklifter, Mr Gatt was operating a crane without an instructor with him in the cabin. Suddenly, the container he was lifting hit the crane.

The ships clerk – who was supposed to be in constant communication with the crane operator – had left his post and no one was in radio contact with Mr Gatt during the accident.

He suffered substantial injuries to his back and a court-appointed medical expert found he had a disability of five per cent.

Madam Justice Anna Felice declared Malta Freeport Terminals Ltd responsible for Mr Gatt’s injuries and awarded him €108,800 in damages.