HERO GARDA DONOHOE’S FAMILY AWARDED €1.3M Court grants personal injury claim for shot officer’s widow and sons
THE family of killed Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was yesterday awarded €1.3million in damages for personal injury against the State.
At the High Court Mr Justice Michael Twomey was asked to approve the negotiated settlement because of the involvement in the proceedings of the late officer’s children who are aged 11 and 12.
The action was taken against the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform by Garda Donohoe’s widow former officer Caroline Deloughrey.
She has retired on health grounds since her husband was shot dead during a credit union robbery in January 2013.
The couple met at Garda Training College in Templemore, Co Tipperary.
She had worked with the Garda National Immigration Bureau in Dundalk station.
Her 41-year-old husband was also attached there.
Det Garda Donohoe had been on armed escort duty with a colleague at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, when he was killed.
He was granted a State funeral and was posthumously awarded a Scott Medal for
Bravery.
His widow’s application for compensation was led by former attorney general Eoghan Fitzsimon and barrister Eamonn M J Coffey.
Micheal O Scanaill with barrister Joseph O’sullivan, together with the State Solicitor’s Office, handled settlement negotiations over the past year on behalf of the Government. Judge Twomey was told it had been agreed by the legal representatives of Det Garda Donohoe’s surviving family members that Ms Deloughrey would receive a settlement of €970,000.
The remainder of the award will be divided almost equally between her two children but slightly in favour of the younger child.
Mr O Scanaill told the Garda Compensation High Court public hearing the minister had agreed that whatever formula of the division of the overall award the family came up with was acceptable to the State. He added the children’s shares would be lodged in court funds until they are aged 18.
Aaron Brady, 28, of New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, has been charged with the capital murder of Det Garda Donohoe.
He denies charge.
€973,000 is to go to Mrs Deloughrey and the rest will be split among her sons
the