GARDA AND FORMER WEXFORD HURLER AWARDED 45,000 EURO IN DAMAGES
A garda from County Wexford has been awarded almost 45,000 euro in damages at the High Court after his patrol car was hit head-on by a joyrider.
Garda Niall Maher was stationed in Bray when the incident occurred in Shankill in south Dublin, on January 4th, 2011.
Garda Niall Maher sustained injuries to his neck and back in the incident which required extensive physiotherapy and osteopathic treatments.
He told the court this week of the negative impact the collision had on his sporting career.
He pointed out that he had played under-age hurling and football for the Wexford county side and had been a goalkeeper for the team in the 2005 minor Leinster hurling final.
He also played handball for his club and county.
Judge Mary Irvine noted that Gda Maher was an accomplished sportsman and that the injuries impacted on his sporting career and awarded him 37,500 euro in general damages and 7,487 euro in special damages.
31 year-old Edward ‘Ned’ Connors from Shankill in south Dublin was charged with endangerment, dangerous driving, criminal damage, driving without insurance and driving under the influence of alcohol and cocaine in relation to the incident.
He was later jailed for a year and banned from driving for 15 years.
