THE widow and three children of a garda sergeant who died in "Sniper's Alley" in Sarajevo last year were awarded £500,000 in their claim under the Garda Compensation Acts in the High Court yesterday.
Mr Justice Budd awarded £380,412 to Ms Rosemarie Reid (38), widow of Sgt Paul Reid (39), who died while on UN duty in Bosnia on May 12th, 1995. Ms Reid, a psychiatric nurse, of Drumanny, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, brought her action against the Minister for Finance.
Their daughter, Aoife (14), was awarded £36,500 while their two sons, Conor (11) and Eoin (9) are to get £39,500 and £43,000 respectively.
The judge said Sgt Reid was the driver of a UN vehicle which was struck by sniper fire, causing the front wheel to be punctured. As a result, the vehicle was in collision with a lamp pole. The sergeant sustained injuries and died later that day.
Sgt Reid, who was brought up in Rathfarnham, Co Dublin, joined the Garda Siochana in 1977 and was promoted sergeant in 1990. He was sergeant in charge of Burnfoot Garda station Co Donegal near the Border with Co Derry and volunteered for a one year tour of duty with the UN from April 28th, 1995.
Mr Paul Gilligan SC, for the Reids, had told the original hearing of the case earlier this month that Sgt Reid had earned £26 600 per annum. There would be evidence he would have been promoted to inspector by 2000.
In her evidence, Ms Reid had stated her husband had loved, enjoyed and been dedicated to his work.
Mr Justice Budd, in his judgment, said he accepted the evidence of a Garda superintendent that the Reids were a united family and that the husband and wife led a good life together. The father played a real and close parental role to the children and was very much involved with their recreational activities.
He accepted Mrs Reid's evidence that the sergeant was an avid fisherman and had been Garda fishing champion. He kept a boat on Lough Fern and would fish with his children on the lakes of Co Monaghan.
He walked the mountains with his wife and children and, having been All Ireland Garda snooker champion, enjoyed playing snooker with his children at home.
Mr Justice Budd ordered that the award of £380,412 be paid directly to Ms Reid and that the Minister lodge in court the various amounts awarded to the children who are minors totalling £119,000.