Condition blinded garda, court hears

A GARDA sergeant has claimed he has been left blind due to a failure to promptly diagnose a serious infection of the eye linked to wearing contact lenses.

Niall Fitzpatrick, 47, from Boher, Co Limerick, has launched a High Court medical negligence action against the HSE and consultant eye specialist Raymond Niland. The defendants deny the claims.

Mr Fitzpatrick was on the brink of being promoted to head of a Garda drugs squad when he contracted the condition in 2005.