A High Court judge has awarded almost €1 million compensation to a garda who was shot in the knee by armed raiders during a bank robbery.
Ms Justice Mary Irvine praised the bravery of Garda Peter O'Connor, who with two other gardaí received Gold Scott Medals as a result of the incident.
Garda O'Connor (45), who was attached to Store Street Garda station, Dublin, at the time of the incident in March 1995, may have to have his leg amputated at a future date, the court heard.
The claim for compensation was brought by Garda O'Connor against the Minister for Finance under the Garda Compensation Act.
Garda O'Connor, together with Sgt Seán Ward and Garda Marcus Hand, was awarded a Scott medal over the incident.
After talks between the sides yesterday, Richard N Keane SC, for Garda O'Connor, told Ms Justice Irvine a settlement had been reached in the case against the Minister for Finance for €990,000.
Mr Keane told the court the shooting occurred on the night of March 5th, 1995, when a man was attempting to make a night lodgement at the AIB in Capel Street, Dublin.
Three raiders with balaclavas and armed with shotguns and a handgun attacked him. On arriving, Garda O'Connor tackled one of the men but, as he did so, another raider came over and shot him in the knee with a shotgun. The shotgun was then put to his head and he was threatened with being shot. The raiders then drove off and would have run over the garda if he had not rolled out of the way, counsel said.
The court heard a total of 57 pellets remain in Garda O'Connor's leg and medical evidence was that at some future date he will probably have to have his leg amputated.
Ms Justice Irvine said the public were extraordinarily well served by Garda O'Connor on the occasion of this "horrific" shooting. She paid tribute to the garda's bravery and also for the way he had managed his life since then and the fact that he had returned to work. The judge wished him every success in the future.
Evidence was given of protracted medical treatment received up to recently by Garda O'Connor who had returned to Garda duty.