A schoolteacher who alleged that a male Garda twisted and fractured her arm during an early-morning incident at a Galway Garda Station has settled her High Court case just moments before a jury was set to deliver its verdict, reports The Mirror.
Denise Callinan (28), of Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim, had taken legal action over injuries she claimed to have suffered during the October 19, 2019 घटना at Mill Street Garda Station in Galway, where she had been brought after being arrested earlier under public order laws, reports The Mirror.
On Thursday, lawyers acting for Ms Callinan informed Judge Tony O’Connor that an agreement had been reached between the parties. The court was told of the settlement shortly before the 12-member jury was due to resume proceedings, having signalled that it had come to a decision.
With the consent of both sides, the judge struck out the proceedings and issued an order directing the Garda Commissioner to cover Ms Callinan’s legal costs, reports The Mirror.
Speaking outside the court, Ms Callinan declined to reveal the terms of the agreement but said she was “extremely happy” with the resolution achieved between the parties.
“Given the fact that we came to a compromise, for me personally, that is justice being served,” she said, reports The Mirror.
During Thursday’s sitting, the judge advised jurors that the matter had been settled and, as a result, their verdict would not be delivered in open court.
Seamus Breen, representing Ms Callinan, expressed gratitude to the jury on her behalf and said the queries they submitted to the judge during deliberations had assisted in moving the sides towards settlement, reports The Mirror.
David McGrath, appearing for the Garda Commissioner, told jurors that their questions had “concentrated minds” in progressing discussions towards resolving the dispute.
Throughout deliberations, jurors sought clarification from the judge on several points, including how many members were needed to reach a majority decision and the method for assessing general damages, reports The Mirror.
The jury had been tasked with determining whether the fracture sustained by Ms Callinan resulted from “unreasonable force” allegedly used by a member of An Garda Síochána, among other matters. Deliberations had commenced on Wednesday morning.
Ms Callinan was represented by barristers Breen, Niall Buckley and Michael J Clancy, along with solicitor Aisling Harrison of Damien Tansey Solicitors LLP, reports The Mirror.
The Garda Commissioner was represented by barristers McGrath and David Boughton, instructed by the Chief State Solicitor’s Office.
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