A detective garda who suffered serious spinal and leg injuries after a Garda car in which he was travelling was rammed by a stolen BMW was awarded £318,682 compensation and costs in the High Court yesterday.
Det Sean O'Sullivan (31), of Clontarf Garda station, Dublin, was a back-seat passenger in a patrol car at Killarney Street and Sean McDermott Street, Dublin, on April 29th, 1994, when a BMW rammed the back of the car. Awarding compensation under the Garda Compensation Acts, Mr Justice Budd said Det Garda O'Sullivan's spine was damaged and discs had to be removed in July 1996. He had enjoyed sport, but no longer played cricket, Gaelic football or golf.
As a result of his injuries, he had a permanent right foot drop and had to wear a brace.
A medical expert believed he would be able for sedentary office work. There would be a permanent weakness in his spine and a degree of arthritis would probably set in at a later stage. He was left with a permanent major disability of the right foot.
Mr Justice Budd said Det Garda O'Sullivan had moved from the uniform ranks to detective garda in 1993 and completed a first-year law examination before the injury occurred. In 1995 he did an examination for promotion to the rank of sergeant and in the ordinary way would have expected to achieve that rank.
Det Garda O'Sullivan said the impact of the stolen car lifted the Garda car off the road and spun it around. He had been due to get married two days after the incident.
Since the incident, he could walk but could not run or climb. He was not allowed to drive a patrol car and was confined to doing light duties and indoor work at the Clontarf station.