Garda on motorbike hit by car awarded €90,000

High Court Reporters

A motorcycle garda who was hit by a car and suffered serious arm injuries has been awarded more than €90,000 by the High Court.

Garda Dean Keogh, a married father of one who has been attached to the traffic unit for 15 years, was hit by a car driven by Maria Byrne, Dargle Road, Drumcondra, Dublin, on September 18th 2021, at the junction of Drumcondra Road/Dargle Road.

He was flung from his garda motorbike and landed on his back.

Liability was admitted, and the case was before the court for assessment of damages only.

In a judgment on Tuesday, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said Garda Keogh suffered severe injuries to both his arms as well as a number of other minor injuries to his body.

He was taken to hospital where the following day he underwent major orthopaedic surgery which rendered him unable to use either arm, and he was totally dependent on his wife for normal things like feeding and drinking, the judge said.

He exercised at home and attended all physiotherapy sessions with the result that after 12 months he was able to return to work.

However, he was no longer confident in handling the weight of a garda motorbike, and he failed a test which would have allowed him to work as an escort for VIP vehicles, the judge said.

Apart from certain restrictions he had however made "a remarkable recovery from potentially life changing injuries", he said.

Although he regained a good deal of function, he was left with a residual feeling of weakness and has pain in his left arm which puts him at risk of developing arthritis, he said. He also has significant scars on his arms as a result of the surgery he required.

The judge awarded him a total of €90,185 including some €85,000 in general damages.