An up-and-coming Wexford GAA star was awarded almost €45,000 in damages at the High Court yesterday after his garda patrol car was rammed over three years ago.

Garda Niall Maher had represented his county in minor hurling, football and handball before the incident in Shankill, South Dublin in January 2011 when his car was hit head-on in a collision with a joyrider. Despite wearing a seatbelt, Garda Maher sustained injuries to his neck and back which he claimed had a negative impact on his promising GAA career.

Maher, who was goalkeeper on the Wexford minor hurling team that reached the 2005 Leinster final and is a nephew of 1996 All-Ireland winning goalkeeper Damien Fitzhenry, told the court he "felt very emotional and upset" when he watched the Model County's thrilling victory over Waterford last Saturday because he believed he would have been playing in that game if it hadn't been for the injuries he sustained.

Judge Mary Irvine awarded him €37,500 in general damages and €7,487 in special damages. Tweet

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