A petrol attendant who alleged he was punched by a garda because he refused to identify a potential gunman has settled his £30,000 damages claim against the State.
Mr Kevin Cronin (22), of Kells Road, Crumlin, yesterday told his counsel, Mr Michael O'Higgins, that the incident took place after a man carrying what could have been a gun had attempted to force his way into the petrol station.
Mr Cronin said that a garda on a motorcycle stopped at the Crumlin Road Texaco garage shortly after the incident. He had been asked to go along with gardai to identify a man, but had refused because of concern for his safety.
"When I refused a number of times the garda caught me by the lapels of my jacket and pushed me up against one of the pumps", Mr Cronin told the Circuit Civil Court. "While still holding my lapels with both of his hands he pushed one of them up towards my face and punched me in the jaw."
Following the lunch recess Mr O'Higgins told Judge Raymond Groarke that the action had been settled and could be struck out.