€35k for detective stabbed under eye

A detective garda, who was stabbed under his right eye after having been called to sort out trouble on Halloween night 2010, has been awarded over €35,000 damages in the High Court.

Det Garda Liam Dolan, aged 53, from Carragh, Co Kildare, told a Garda compensation hearing that he had just got out of his car in the Otomy Drive area of Clane, Co Kildare, when a group of youths ran at him, one teenager striking him in the face.

Mr Justice Bernard Barton heard that Det Garda Dolan had been “knifed on his cheekbone” and had fallen, bleeding heavily.

Frank Crean, for Det Garda Dolan, said he was rushed to Naas General Hospital, before being transferred to St James’ Hospital in Dublin where his laceration was sutured. The court heard he did not suffer any fracture or nerve damage.

Mr Crean said Det Garda Dolan, who sued the finance minister, suffered post-traumatic stress-type symptoms following the assault and had been out of work for several weeks.

The State argued that Det Garda Dolan’s quality of life had not been adversely impaired after the attack.