Galway Bay fm newsroom – A former Salthill Garda Sergeant, who suffered ongoing back pain and depression following an assault during a Galway car rally nearly 20 years ago, has been awarded 105 thousand euro in damages.
Mr Justice Bernard Barton said he did not accept that retired sergeant, 60 year old Michael Conroy, had to retire in 2009 because of his injuries.
In February 1998, Mr Conroy was based in Salthill, and had been on duty during the Statoil Galway International Rally.
In the reserved judgement, the judge said individuals in the crowd threw missiles, including bottles, at Gardaí.
As Conroy arrested a spectator, he was attacked from behind by another man, and landed on a car bonnet.
He attended University Hospital Galway later that day, complaining of pain and bruising in his left leg.
Judge Barton today said that Mr Conroy, who sued the state, had later developed lower back pain.
According to the Irish Independent, the judge said he accepted the injuries caused by the assault had re-activated degenerative changes in Mr Conroy’s back.
Conroy had undergone treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder following the incident, and claims he retired early because of his injuries.
The State claimed Michael Conroy had voluntary retired after 35 years of service and had not indicated at the time that he was retiring on illness grounds.
The State also alleged that the former sergeant was not suffering from PTSD symptoms, but depression.
Awarding him 105 thousand euro in damages, the judge said he did not accept Conroy’s claim that he retired because of his injuries.
He adjourned the question of an award of further special damages until next month.
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