A retired detective who prayed over a colleague who had been shot in a gun battle has been awarded €150,000 in damages.

The retired detective took a personal injury* claim in the High Court for trauma and psychological injuries he claimed to have suffered during the incident. The court was told that the retired detective and his colleague were called to a disturbance at a block of flats in Tallaght.

The retired detective and his colleagues entered a flat and a struggle ensued in a bathroom in the flat. The retired detective attempted to enter the bathroom to assist his colleagues however he was unable to gain entry and he ran to his patrol car to call for armed assistance. Whilst at the patrol car, the retired detective heard 2 gunshots and looked up to see his colleague run towards the road. The retired detective claimed he heard at least two more gunshots and then saw his colleague fall to the ground.

The court was told that the retired detective ran to assist his colleague and claimed that he found his colleague lying face down with blood coming from his mouth. The retired detective told the court that he got down on his knees and said a prayer for his colleague.

The Judge of the High Court, Judge Irvine, said she accepted the retired detective had seen his colleague shot and fall and had tended him on the ground. She awarded him €150,000 damages against the State for a 20-year psychological injury caused maliciously by the recklessness of the gunman who had shot down his colleague.

*In contentious business a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.