A COP helping colleagues restrain a nightclub reveller was head-butted and kicked by the man — who was his girlfriend’s brother, a court heard yesterday.

Garda Fintan Smith told a compensation hearing his now in-law loafed him when he saw him, causing him a nosebleed and leaving him with a black eye.

The applicant said he had fallen to the ground while his assailant was handcuffed and taken to a patrol car for transfer to Letterkenny Garda Station, Co Donegal.
Mr Smith then sat into the front passenger seat of the motor — and was kicked to the side of the head by the belligerent punter.

He testified he had been driving the cop car earlier on St Patrick’s Night 2012 when he saw a disturbance outside the Letterkenny club and stopped to help.

Smith, now 32, told his counsel Fiona Crawford he and his girlfriend had since married and although his girlfriend’s brother had been invited to the wedding last May, he did not turn up.

Garda Smith said he had not kept up any relationship with his now brother-in-law but had very good relations with his other in-laws.

He said he tried to avoid any family get-togethers if he knew his bro-in-law was going to be there.

Ms Crawford submitted her client had sustained an injured nose but X-rays had revealed no bone injury.

His black eye cleared up after a short time and had simply been an embarrassment.

Mr Smith said the incident had caused a lot of stress between himself and his partner and he’d been off work for a month.

He had been uncomfortable with the situation and, after seeking a transfer from Letterkenny, he’s now stationed in Ballybofey.

He was angry about the effect the incident had on his home and working life.

Mr Smith told the High Court hearing his now brother-in-law had been in trouble with gardai at the time.

He wouldn’t be the sort of person who would have respect for the force, he added.

Awarding him €4,000 damages for his injuries, Judge Twomey said the brother-in-law had a negative attitude towards gardai.

He said the award was for a black eye and sore nose and for psychological injuries that had resulted from the incident.