The High Court has approved a €60,000 settlement for the family of a Garda who with another colleague died when their ten year old patrol car, with no airbags or side impact system and described by the dead garda's family as "substandard", crashed into an metal electricity pole while pursuing a stolen car.
Mr Justice Johnson remarked that it was "not acceptable" that these young men who lay down their lives every day to protect the ordinary citizens of this country should not be given the best equipment and training. "We at least owe them that," he said.
The relatives of Garda Garrett Harmon (29), of Sandyhills, Rush, also urged that better resources be given to the gardai and asked: "How many other guards have to die needlessly before a change is made?"
The relatives of Garda Harmon, who, with Garda Conor Griffin, of Roselawn, Lucan, died four years ago, said that as a family, they had taken proceedings against the Minister for Justice and the State to highlight the lack of training and resources within the garda organisation.
They said they found it hard to accept that the two gardai had died in a such a vehicle. They said the Toyota Corolla had done more than 114,600 miles and had no airbags and no side impact system.
In their proceedings, Garda Harmon's family claimed there had been a failure to provide a safe system of work for their son and a failure to provide safe and adequate vehicles for him in the course of his duty.
It was also claimed he had been permitted to use a vehicle which was not fitted with airbags or other suitable restraints which would cushion the impact of a collision. There had also been a failure to properly instruct and provide training for the deceased, it was pleaded.
Garda Harmon and Garda Griffin died in the accident at Glasanaon Road, Dublin, on May 15th, 2000. The High Court action was taken by Garda Harmon's father, Noel Harmon, on his own behalf and that of his wife, Violet; son Trevor and daughter Shona.
The defendants denied the claim and alleged contributory negligence.
Mr Richard Keane SC, for the plaintiff, said Garda Harmon appeared to have lost control of the vehicle on the date in question and it collided with the metal electricity pole. There was a 24-foot skid mark which would be consistent with a speed of 22-26 mph. There had been 17 replacement tyres for the vehicle.
A report on the vehicle by a British expert had concluded that the car was totally unsuitable. Garda Harmon had received no training for pursuit of any description. There was a driving course in operation but due to financial difficulties there were not enough places.