A GARDA whose nose was broken while helping to arrest troublemakers said she discovered she was pregnant when taken to hospital for treatment, a judge heard yesterday. As a result she could not be given painkillers.
Ms Justice Mary Irvine awarded Garda Elizabeth Twomey Harte €19,000 compensation against the State, which had accepted there had been malice involved in the attack on two gardaí.
Garda Harte (35) said she and a colleague, Garda Ronan Coleman (31), had been assaulted while making an arrest in March 2006 at Castleisland, Co Kerry, where they are stationed.
She told her barrister, Katie O’Connell, that before receiving treatment she had asked that a pregnancy test be taken and it was positive. As a result she had been unable to take painkillers.
Garda Harte said her nose later had to be broken again when it was being manipulated back into position and because of her pregnancy she had been unable to receive any anaesthetic.
Ms Justice Irvine, in awarding Garda Harte compensation, said she had been punched and kicked and had been anxious for the outcome of her pregnancy, which thankfully had successfully progressed to full term.
The judge said Garda Harte had suffered some nasal obstruction and headaches following the injury and was anxious to have cosmetic surgery to straighten what she considers is a misalignment of her nose.
Garda Coleman said he and Garda Harte had arrested two of a group of youths who had been shouting and generally misbehaving on the street. He had been pushed back over the bonnet of a car and had fallen to the ground, injuring his lower back. He still suffered pain and discomfort and had to give up playing rugby.
The judge awarded Garda Coleman €14,500 compensation.
