Detective is suing state following claims of post -traumatic stress and short term anorexia

A female Detective Garda suffered psychological injuries after a prisoner defecated in his cell and rubbed his excrement over his face, the High Court was told today.

Cavan based Det. Garda Linda Harkin told the court that in June 2005, she had brought a cup of tea to a prisoner who had been brought in for questioning in relation to a “serious gangland murder investigation”.

She told her barrister, Frank Martin, that the prisoner had not wanted to co-operate during interviews, but had not caused any trouble when she brought him meals and accompanied him on a confined recreation walk.

Det. Garda Harkin, of Rocklands, Cavan, is suing the State for compensation for personal injury. She claims she developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and short term anorexia.

Det. Garda Harkin told a Garda compensation hearing that on the second day of his detention she had brought him a cup of tea which he had requested.

She had left it on his cell door hatch and had looked in to check on him. She saw that the prisoner had put his head close to the hatch and she could see he had excrement all over his face and in his mouth.

Det. Garda Harkin said she was shocked when the prisoner had opened his mouth and she saw it was filled with excrement. It had been covering his teeth and she could see he was trying to swallow it. They were almost nose-to-nose and she feared he was going to spit it in her face.

Judge Barton heard the prisoner had later been charged and convicted under the Criminal Damage Act for damage to three cell blankets and had been ordered by a District Court judge to undergo psychiatric treatment.

Judge Barton said he was satisfied the prisoner had known that Det. Garda Harkin would be the one to bring him his tea or check on him and he had approached the hatch in his cell and had made sure his face would be visible close up.

After deciding the preliminary issue Judge Barton adjourned the remainder of the hearing to a date to be fixed.