Garda wins suit against GAA and security firm

A detective garda, who claimed he had been wrongly accused of having used a stolen corporate pass to watch a hurling match in…

A detective garda, who claimed he had been wrongly accused of having used a stolen corporate pass to watch a hurling match in Croke Park, has won damages and a public apology from the GAA and a security company.

The GAA and Frontline Security unreservedly apologized to Det Garda Oliver Gavin for "the manner in which he was treated" at the Offaly v Antrim match on Sunday July 25th, 1999.

When Mr Eamon Murray, counsel for the GAA, told Judge Alison Lindsay that Det Garda Gavin's action for defamation had been settled "entirely without any admission of liability", Mr Mel Christle SC, counsel for the garda, said his statement had to be seen in the light of the public apology given on behalf of all of the defendants.

Det Garda Gavin, of Store Street Garda station and Woodvale Green, Clonsilla, Dublin, had sued the GAA and Frontline Security Group, Foxborough Drive, Lucan, Co Dublin, for €38,000 damages.