Almost 900 Gardaí awaiting compensation claims for injuries in the line of duty

The State is facing almost 900 claims for compensation from members of the gardaí who have allegedly suffered harm in the line of duty, it has been confirmed.

The Department of Justice said that, as of the end of October, it had received the required information on 317 compensation claims and was awaiting details on a further 550 cases.

The confirmation comes just days after a garda was awarded €50,000 damages in the High Court in a compensation hearing after a gun was pointed at him after he confronted two robbers in 2010.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said it was her function, following assessment of the case by designated officials from her department, to decide whether the appeal should be approved or refused.

She also outlined what information is required for a claim for garda compensation and also defended the delay in bringing the cases to completion.

“Before a decision to approve can be taken and the matter progressed to the High Court, certain conditions must be met,” she said.

“The injury being claimed for must not be minor in nature, and confirmation must be received from the Garda Commissioner that the incident occurred on duty and that it was not caused as the result of willful default or negligence on the member’s part.”

Ms Fitzgerald gave the information in response to Fianna Fáil TD Bobby Aylward who also asked the year each claim was received and why they were not processed in a timely manner.

“Inevitably this can be a long process even in relatively simple cases,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

“Unfortunately in some cases this has added to the amount of time spent processing applications before a decision to refuse or approve is made.

"This matter is being addressed and the intention would be to reduce the processing time back down to normal levels over the coming months.”

Mr Aylward said he had raised the issue with the minister because a retired garda had approached him about an injury he sustained in 2010.

The Carlow–Kilkenny TD said the “relatively young” garda’s case had finally reached the Department of Justice for assessment in January 2014, but almost two years later it still had not moved to the next stage of assessment.

He said in many cases the injuries sustained by gardaí — while in the line of duty and putting their lives in danger — meant they could not return to work.

“They are being left high and dry. They have to be compensated for their loss. Some may not be in a healthy position financially after having to leave the force.”

Last Monday, Garda Paul Carney was awarded €50,000 damages in a High Court compensation hearing.

The Leixlip officer and a colleague had disarmed and arrested two robbers after a security alarm went off at a jewellery shop in August 2010. When the men split up each officer followed one of them.

Garda Carney called for the man he had been chasing to surrender but the robber stopped and pointed a gun at him in a military stance.

Garda Carney tackled the gunman, disarmed him and threw away the gun but as he was about to handcuff the gunman, the second robber approached, picked up the gun and pointed it at Garda Carney, who told the court he expected to be shot.

However, the man ran away. After the incident he developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and had needed to undergo therapy.

He had suffered panic attacks and had become paranoid.