Garda awarded €30,000 damages for injury suffered in Clonmany incident

A 29-year-old garda who suffers from tinnitus since he was hit on the head five years ago with a stone “the size of a melon” has been awarded €30,000 damages in the High Court.
Garda John O’Connor told the court that when the incident happened in August 2011, he was attached to Buncrana Garda station and had been on public order patrol at the annual music festival in Clonmany, Co Donegal.
Garda O’Connor, who sued the Minister for Public Expenditure, said a number of people had been involved in a disturbance on the Main Street in Clonmany.
Garda O’Connor had been struck on the head by the stone when missiles, including glasses and bottles, had been thrown at him and his colleagues.
The court heard that during further arrests that night, he had also been kicked on the right side of his face by another man.
Mr Justice Bernard Barton was told Garda O’Connor woke up the next morning with severe pain to the right side of his face and in his right ear. He had also suffered bruising to his face.
Garda O’Connor, now based at Swinford Garda station, Co Mayo, had later attended his GP, complaining of persistent tinnitus since the assault. The court heard the tinnitus was ongoing.
Judge Barton, awarding him €30,000, said that although Garda O’Connor was not suffering from a severe type of tinnitus, he was satisfied that it constituted a nuisance in his life.