A former garda who retired early as a result of two separate incidents of violence against him was awarded £196,801 compensation at the High Court yesterday. Mr Anthony Campbell (54) retired three years ago.
The court heard Mr Campbell had chronic post-traumatic stress syndrome and had experienced a huge change in his life.
He told Mr Justice Budd that on May 13th, 1991, he was driving a patrol car and got a call to go to Pottery Road, Dun Laoghaire, where some youths were drinking and residents were complaining.
One youth got very abusive and bit him on the finger. He had to attend St Michael's Hospital, Dun Laoghaire, for a tetanus injection. He was worried about his health.
The youth whom he arrested made a complaint about him to the Garda Complaints Tribunal which was found to be vexatious. The youth was prosecuted and received a six-month sentence.
Mr Campbell said that in March 1994 he and a colleague got a call that someone was interfering with a car in the Mounttown, Dun Laoghaire, area. Some youths grappled with him and a colleague.
One youth grabbed him by the throat, got him up against the car and said he was going to kill him. The youth head-butted him on the right eye. He had never seen anyone so violent.
Mr Campbell said that about a fortnight after the incident, he fell into depression and was away from work for several months.