A former garda who was attacked by a psychiatrically ill man wielding a knife in each hand was awarded £352,363 in compensation at the High Court yesterday.
Retired Garda Con Mulvey (55), of Athenry, Co Galway, had told an earlier hearing of being stabbed in the back of the head by the man, who had threatened: "I'll `abattoir' you".
"I said goodbye to my wife and three children, I didn't think I was going to get out of it," the garda said.
After the attack, the patient, who was in an agitated and unbalanced condition, attacked and immobilised a Garda car, the court was told.
Later he took a sledge-hammer and went to his sister's house, where he demolished all the windows and doors, blaming her for calling the gardai.
During the attack at Blackpark, Athenry, Co Galway, on November 23rd, 1996, the now-retired garda sustained a one-inch puncture wound to the head.
Afterwards he suffered from disturbed sleep, severe depression, panic attacks and, in the following weeks, developed post-traumatic stress disorder. He also developed pain in his right arm and right side of his body.
Awarding Garda Mulvey £152,363 for loss of income and medical expenses, Mr Justice Kinlen fixed compensation at £150,000 for pain and suffering to date and £50,000 for pain and suffering into the future, making a total of £352,363.