Garda injured while dismantling Halloween bonfire wins compensation

A 41-year-old garda who suffered head injuries while dismantling a dangerous Halloween night bonfire site at a Dublin flat complex has been awarded compensation in the High Court.

Garda Garrett Lynch said that on October 31st, 2010, he was called with colleagues to help Dublin City Council staff members remove a pile of timber which had been built for a bonfire at St Teresa's Gardens in Dublin 8.

Garda Lynch told his barrister Breffni Gordon during a Garda Compensation hearing that as they were moving the timber, a number of youths started throwing missiles at them.

Garda Lynch, with an address at Dargle Wood, Knocklyon, Dublin, said one of the youths had thrown a stone which hit him on the left side of his forehead.

Mr Justice Bernard Barton heard Garda Lynch carried on with his duties and the situation had been brought under control. He had been brought back to Kevin Street Garda station where he received medical treatment before being taken to St Vincent's University Hospital.

Mr Gordon told the court Garda Lynch suffered an abrasion to his forehead which healed within a few weeks. He had suffered from headaches for several weeks after the incident and had needed to take painkillers.

The court heard Garda Lynch had needed to take time off work and the wound had left a small permanent indentation on his forehead. Judge Barton awarded Garda Lynch €10,000 compensation.