Garda Who Injured Fingernail On Duty Is Suing Justice Minister For Compensation

The Irish Sun is reporting that a Garda who damaged his fingernail while on duty is suing the Justice Minister for compensation.

Court reporter, Aodhan O Faolain, states that Garda Noel Callan was left with a disfigured fingernail when a patrol car door slammed on the little finger of his left hand while restraining a man who was drunk and violent.

The Justice Minister decided to refuse a claim under the Garda Compensation Acts because he felt the injury was only minor but the Garda is challenging the refusal and wants to pursue a compensation claim.

Garda Callan’s barrister Richard Kean believes that the injury was serious enough to deserve compensation.

The incident meant that the garda was out of work for a week. His fingernail bed was lacerated and the fingernail had to be removed.

He also suffered loss of sensation and tenderness over an eight month period because of it.

Judge Max Barrett has currently reserved judgement on the case.