A DETECTIVE GARDA, who was stabbed under his right eye after having been called to sort out trouble on Halloween night 2010, has been awarded more than €35,000 damages in the High Court.
Detective Garda Liam Dolan (53) told a garda compensation hearing that he had just got out of his car in the Otomy Drive area of Clane, Co Kildare, when a group of youths ran at him, one teenager striking him in the face.
Mr Justice Bernard Barton heard that Detective Garda Dolan, who is stationed at Naas Garda Station, Co Kildare, had been “knifed on his cheekbone” and had fallen, bleeding heavily.
Post-traumatic stress symptoms
Barrister Frank Crean said his client was rushed to Naas General Hospital, before being transferred to St James’ Hospital in Dublin where his laceration was sutured. The court heard he did not suffer any fracture or nerve damage.
Mr Crean said the garda, who sued the Minister for Finance, had suffered post-traumatic stress type symptoms following the assault and had been out of work for several weeks.
The court heard that Detective Garda Dolan, a married father of three from Carragh, Co Kildare, suffered anxiety, flashbacks and sleep disturbance after the incident.
His symptoms had now significantly reduced, although there “had not been a day when he had not thought about the incident.” The court heard the wound had left a visible and permanent indented scar on the garda’s face.
The State argued that Detective Garda Dolan’s quality of life had not been adversely impaired after the attack.
Judge Barton said he was satisfied the laceration had left a cosmetic deformity on Detective Garda Dolan’s face, and he had to wear it for the rest of his life.
Awarding him €35,780 damages, the judge said he accepted Detective Garda Dolan suffered minor psychological injuries.
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