Garda who lost teeth in ‘savage attack’ awarded damages of €38k

13/02/2019


A Garda who was knocked unconscious in an attack by a ‘gang of thugs’ and had to push a dislodged tooth back up into his gum to avoid losing it has been awarded €38,500 in compensation at the High Court.

The Garda detective, who was still a uniformed officer stationed in Dublin at the time of the attack in December 2006, was set upon by a group of six men as they made their way to a Christmas party.

Counsel for the Garda told the compensation hearing that he had been kicked and punched to the ground and had a glass bottle smashed against his head. He had then been kicked and punched repeatedly while on the ground until he lost consciousness.

He had been found some time later by colleagues and taken back to the Garda station before being brought to a nearby hospital by ambulance to be treated for his injuries.

The Garda told the court that he had received severe gashes to his mouth and the back of his head. He said he had pushed a dislodged front tooth back into its socket after he recovered consciousness and was later told by a dentist that this had been the correct thing to do to save the tooth.

The Garda had to undergo root canal surgery on his teeth, one of which has never fully come back into line. He also suffered severe body bruising and a shoulder injury.

He told the court that he had taken six weeks off work after the attack. He had been due for a promotion to detective at the time and admitted he had probably returned to his duties too soon.

He returned to full duties but said that the shoulder injury still gives him pain at times while playing football for his local club.

The High Court judge awarded the detective damages of €38,500, noting that he had suffered significant injuries and been left with a noticeable scar at the side of his mouth.

If you have suffered injuries in the course of performing your duties, make sure to contact your solicitor to discuss possible recompense. In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.

Contact us for more information

Garda who lost teeth in ‘savage attack’ awarded damages of €38k

12/02/2019


A Garda who was knocked unconscious in an attack by a ‘gang of thugs’ and had to push a dislodged tooth back up into his gum to avoid losing it has been awarded €38,500 in compensation at the High Court.

The Garda detective, who was still a uniformed officer stationed in Dublin at the time of the attack in December 2006, was set upon by a group of six men as they made their way to a Christmas party.

Counsel for the Garda told the compensation hearing that he had been kicked and punched to the ground and had a glass bottle smashed against his head. He had then been kicked and punched repeatedly while on the ground until he lost consciousness.

He had been found some time later by colleagues and taken back to the Garda station before being brought to a nearby hospital by ambulance to be treated for his injuries.

The Garda told the court that he had received severe gashes to his mouth and the back of his head. He said he had pushed a dislodged front tooth back into its socket after he recovered consciousness and was later told by a dentist that this had been the correct thing to do to save the tooth.

The Garda had to undergo root canal surgery on his teeth, one of which has never fully come back into line. He also suffered severe body bruising and a shoulder injury.

He told the court that he had taken six weeks off work after the attack. He had been due for a promotion to detective at the time and admitted he had probably returned to his duties too soon.

He returned to full duties but said that the shoulder injury still gives him pain at times while playing football for his local club.

The High Court judge awarded the detective damages of €38,500, noting that he had suffered significant injuries and been left with a noticeable scar at the side of his mouth.

If you have suffered injuries in the course of performing your duties, make sure to contact your solicitor to discuss possible recompense. In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.

Contact us for more information


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