HIGH COURT:A 34-year-old female garda, who was stunned when an intoxicated woman she was searching punched her on the nose, has been awarded more than €5,000 in damages at a High Court Garda compensation hearing.
Garda Shauna Keane, of Cappahard, Tulla Road, Ennis, Co Clare, told Ms Justice Mary Irvine that she was searching a woman in a private room when the prisoner lashed out at her.
Garda Keane said she had been stationed in Waterford Road Garda station, Cork city, on November 3rd, 2005, when she was called to a disturbance at Gurranabraher, where three prisoners, including the woman, were being held. Garda Keane said she suffered a lot of pain to her face and nose and had been off work for six weeks. Her doctor had referred her to an ear, nose and throat specialist who had carried out a fibre-optic internal examination of her nose.
She still had to use a steroid spray to counter the feeling of a drip on her nose. Awarding her €5,750 in compensation, the judge said she had suffered ongoing headaches for a time, as well as nose bleeds and nasal congestion.