A young soldier, who was kicked in the head while grooming a stallion at McKee Barracks, Dublin, has been awarded €18,000 damages in the Circuit Civil Court.
Barrister Frank Beatty said Aoife Flood was clipping a new stallion, Colonel Clover, at the Army Equitation School on January 8th, 2009, when the horse reared up and kicked her.
Ms Flood, a 26-year-old groom, of Glenview Park, Tallaght, Dublin, said that she had been directed by Capt Michael Kelly to clip the horse.
Ms Flood, who initially returned to light “office duties”, said she had been off work for two weeks and had undergone physiotherapy sessions for two years. She had since developed a fear of horses. Judge Mahon said Ms Flood should have been provided with a helmet and protective equipment.