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

awarded compensation