A detective garda who was shot at several times with a double-barrelled sawn-off shotgun when he came across intruders at a premises in Ballyfermot, Dublin, was awarded £37,312 compensation by the High Court yesterday.
The court heard that Det Garda Brendan Walsh (46) and a colleague were checking the premises at 8.45 a.m. on June 20th, 1994, when they heard intruders.
The detective shouted to whoever was inside to come out. A raider wearing a balaclava came out with a sawn-off shotgun and fired in the direction of the gardai. Several rounds were exchanged, during which a pellet struck the garda on the finger.
Gardai had to tell people on Lally Road to get back into their houses. One garda got behind the raider and knocked him to the ground. There was a violent struggle and cartridges were lying on the road.
Afterwards had flashbacks, feelings of claustrophobia and nightmares. He had to have a pellet removed from his finger in hospital.
Mr Justice Budd made the compensation award against the State under the Garda Compensation Acts.