The family of a Garda who was murdered while on duty has been awarded €1.3million personal injury compensation in a legal action taken against the State in relation to his death.
Garda Caroline Deloughrey, the widow of deceased Garda Adrian Donohoe who was shot dead five years ago while on armed escort duty, took the legal action against the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Ms Deloughrey has retired on health grounds from the force since the death of her husband.
Mr Justice Michael Twomey, who presides over Garda Compensation matters in the High Court, was asked to give his approval to the negotiated settlement due to involvement in the legal actions of Garda Donohoe’s son and daughter who are now aged 11 and 12.
Ms Deloughrey, a native of Co Clare, told the Court that she met her husband when the were training at the Garda Training Collegein Co Tipperary. Both of them had been working within the Garda National Immigration Bureau based in Dundalk Garda Station. Her husband had been on armed escort duty with a colleague at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013 when he was fatally shot.
Ms Deloughrey and her children were legally represented by former Attorney General Eoghan Fitzsimons SC and Barrister Eamonn M J Coffey, who appeared with the family solicitors James McGuill and Company.
Judge Twomey was informed that a settlement of €970,000 had been agreed by the legal representatives of Garda Donohoe’s surviving family members for Ms Deloughrey with the remainder of the award being split almost equally between her two children, but slightly in favour of the younger child.
The Judge was told that the Minister had agreed that the formula of division of the overall personal injury compensation award was acceptable to the State. The children’s shares of the award are to be lodged in court funds until they are 18 years old and Ms Deloughrey will receive her €970,000 compensation award as soon as possible.