Community garda awarded €15k compensation after being attacked with stiletto

Ms Justice Leoni Reynolds heard at a Garda Compensation hearing in the High Court today Garda Crennan had suffered injuries to her left knee and thigh when attempting to stop a street fight outside the Russell Court Hotel 11 years ago.

Barrister Francis McGagh, who appeared with Keans Solicitors for Garda Crennan told the court in the course of arresting a woman who had been wearing pointed stiletto heels she had suffered a number of kicks to her legs.

When Garda Crennan returned to Harcourt Terrace Garda Station on January 24, 2010, her left thigh had been extremely painful and she was unable to walk properly.

She had gone home after duty but had been unable to sleep because of the pain.

She had gone to St James’s Hospital for treatment and afterwards had attended her GP on a number of occasions. Eventually she had to have a surgical procedure to her left knee.

The pain had been relieved only after a steroid injection.

A specialist had diagnosed soft tissue injuries and damage to her articular cartilage of the left patella which, she had been told could deteriorate with time.

The court heard that Garda Crennan, of Ashtown, Cabra, Dublin, a member of Naomh Jude Club, had decided to get on with her life and had returned to playing senior camogie.

Judge Reynolds said Garda Crennan had suffered injuries to her knee during what had been an unsettling incident for her.

Treatment by injection had relieved her symptoms. She awarded Garda Crennan €11,000 compensation against the Minister for Public Expenditure together with special damages of €4,139.