Two race-goers headbutted, punched and then kicked a garda in the back as she lay on the ground at the entrance to the Curragh Racecourse, Co Kildare, a judge heard yesterday.

Garda Sgt Alma Molloy, formerly of Ramsgrange, New Ross, Co Wexford, and now stationed in Kilkenny city, was awarded nearly €90,000 damages by Ms Justice Mary Irvine in a High Court Garda Compensation hearing nearly 10 years after the incident.

She is now aged 36, Barrister Colm P Condon, SC, for Sgt Molloy, told the court she had been called to help colleagues restrain a man and a woman who were behaving in a hostile and aggressive manner and who also appeared to be drunk.

Ms Justice Irvine said Sgt Molloy still experienced chronic discomfort in her neck and lower back, had given up running and had not gone back to playing … Read More »

A boy, who suffered an injury to his lip in a creche when he was three years old has been awarded €17,700 damages in the Circuit Civil Court in respect of a Personal Injury Claim.

Bernard Rogan, counsel for Luke Hyland, Russell View, Tallaght, now aged seven, said the boy had run into the back of a chair on December 19th, 2008.

The judge heard that Mr Rogan, at an earlier hearing, had convinced the court not to approve a lower assessment of the injuries board.

Mr Rogan said he had since negotiated an improved offer of €17,700 together with full legal costs and a further €1,137 towards fees and expenses.

The boy had made a full recovery apart from a mildly noticeable permanent mark on his lip.

A prisoner who in 2007 called Joe Duffy’s Liveline radio programme from his jail cell had headbutted a garda prior to his incarceration for armed robbery, a judge heard yesterday.

Former garda Ray Carey told Ms Justice Mary Irvine in the High Court the headbutting happened on St Patrick’s Day in 2003 at Tolka Valley Park, where he had been called to help colleagues arrest three men. He said one of the men had been the late John Daly, who telephoned the radio show from his cell.

Mr Carey said Daly had been murdered shortly after his release from prison.

Mr Carey (31), of Esker Park, Lucan, Co Dublin, told the judge he resigned from the garda in 2004 and had taken up work with the Department of Social Welfare. Judge Irvine awarded Mr Carey €18,000 compensation

Able Solicitors have secured an award in the amount of €17,845.70 plus costs in a Personal Injury Circuit Court Action against Dublin Airport.

Our Client tripped and fell on a barrier base during the construction of Terminal 2 which resulted in our client injuring her back and foot.

Judge Linnane decided that the Defendants were negligent in failing to properly explain that the area was no longer accessible to pedestrians and therefore held the Defendants liable.

Gardaí yesterday appealed to the driver of a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run incident causing the death of a 42-year-old cyclist in Co Kerry to come forward.

He had been training for next weekend’s Ring of Kerry charity cycling event.

Paudie O’Leary, a married father of four from Leamyglissane, Gneeveguilla, died after being struck as he cycled on the road from Killarney to Gneeveguilla, between 8am and 10am, on Sunday. His body was found after a search for him began.

Gardaí in Kanturk, Co Cork, are investigating. Insp Gerry Lacey said: “I would say to the driver, or anyone with information, to come and talk to us. It is possible that the person who hit the cyclist panicked and left the scene,” he said.

Appealing for public assistance, he said someone in the wider community knew who had been driving the vehicle, or knew … Read More »

A woman who suffered a head injury and was left blind in one eye after she was hit by a bus in Dublin city is to receive €900,000 in settlement of her High Court action.

Cam My Lam (65), Ongar Park, Clonsilla, Dublin, was walking at St Stephen’s Green, Dublin, on January 13th, 2009, when she was hit by a bus and knocked unconscious. Ms Cam, a native of Vietnam, sued Dublin Bus claiming she suffered serious personal injuries due to alleged negligence and breach of duty. The claims were denied.

She also claimed she was unable to resume work as a babysitter and had had difficulty in looking after her autistic son since.

Her counsel told the High Court his client could not see from her right eye and her left eye vision was blurred. She had also lost her sense of … Read More »

A woman who was trapped on a bus when a Luas tram collided with it on Dublin’s O’Connell Street has settled her High Court action.

Frances Kelly (76), of Tolka Road, Ballybough, Dublin, was a passenger on the No 16 bus when the crash occurred at the junction of Middle Abbey Street and O’Connell Street on September 16th, 2009 injuring 21 people. Ms Kelly was trapped on the bus for about 30 minutes, and suffered multiple crush injuries, including fractures to her knee, wrist and nose.

Ms Kelly had sued Veolia Transport Ireland Ltd, operators of the Luas service, who had denied her claims, including claims of negligence and breach of duty.

When the case was called before Ms Justice Mary Irvine yesterday she was told the matter had been settled and could be struck out. It is understood Ms Kelly is to … Read More »

31-year-old Dublin man feared he would contract a blood-borne infectious disease after sitting on a syringe needle in the city’s North Star Hotel, a judge was told in court yesterday.

Judge Alison Lindsay awarded Derek Ledden €10,000 damages and costs against the hotel owner, BC McGettigan Limited, which has its registered office at Waterloo Lane, Ballsbridge, Dublin.

Mr Ledden told the judge in the Circuit Civil Court that he had to abstain from having sex with his girlfriend until he received a HIV and hepatitis all-clear six months after the incident and it had strained their relationship.

Barrister John Moher said Mr Ledden, of Upper Oriel Street, Dublin, had suffered a traumatic experience six years ago when his brother, Stephen, had been murdered in a mistaken identity shooting at their home.

The judge said a needle had been found on the floor and there … Read More »

A teenage girl who suffered a shoulder injury at birth is to receive €380,000 under a settlement of her High Court action made without admission of liability.

Mary Griffin (15), Shanacloon, Fermoy, Co Cork, through her father Donal, had sued a consultant obstetrician, Patrick Kieran, Orchard Road, Cork, and Bon Secours Health System Ltd, College Road, Cork, over alleged negligence during her birth at the Bon Secours Hospital, Cork, in 1997.

It was claimed Ms Griffin sustained a permanent injury to her left shoulder during her delivery and now suffers from Erb’s palsy. It was alleged Dr Kieran failed to identify the risk of shoulder dystocia prior to or during the delivery.

The claims were denied.

A schoolgirl who was injured by a discarded syringe needle in the bedclothes of her Dublin hotel has been awarded €17,500 in the Circuit Civil Court.

The court heard as Amy Kane (then 12) was settling into bed at Castleknock Travel Lodge, Dublin, on June 6th, 2009, she was pricked on the elbow by the needle in the bed linen. Amy, Dundonald, Belfast, was taken to the hotel reception, where first aid was applied to a bleeding wound on her arm.

Circuit Court president Mr Justice Matthew Deery was told that after returning home the next day, Amy attended her GP in Northern Ireland. Tests were later carried out at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald to see if she had contracted a blood-borne disease.

Mr Justice Deery heard she had to wait three months for test results, which were negative for hepatitis and … Read More »