Ex-soldier wins €300,000 damages for PTSD

Last Updated: Tuesday, July 22, 2008, 18:04
Ex-soldier wins €300,000 damages for PTSD
Irish Times - Dublin,Ireland

MARY CAROLANA former soldier has secured €302,873 damages from the High Court over negligence by the Army in failing to diagnose and treat him for post-traumatic stress arising from his experiences in Lebanon.

Mr Justice Declan Budd found former Private Victor Murtagh was “obviously stricken” with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while in Lebanon in 1986/87 and that culpable negligence by senior army staff in failing, despite his “strange and abnormal behaviour”, to refer him for diagnosis and treatment led to his contracting chronic PTSD.

Mr Murtagh (42), a father of six of Pearse Road, Ballymote, Co Sligo, claimed in his action against the Minister for Defence that he did not receive any counselling or treatment from the Army for severe anxiety attacks and stress-related illness sustained from his experiences in Labanon in 1986/87.

During the hearing of his action, his counsel described Mr Murtagh as a “broken man” when he returned from his first and only tour of duty there at the age of 21.

Mr Murtagh was in Lebanon at a time when there was an atmosphere of huge hostility with UNIFIL troops coming under regular fire, the court heard.

On December 6th, 1986 a fellow soldier and friend, Pte William O’Brien was killed, while on January 10 1987, another colleague, Cpl Dermot McLaughlin, was shot dead by Israeli forces. Mr Murtagh had reacted badly to both deaths, the court heard.

Mr Murtagh, who was discharged from the Army in 1998 on health grounds after 14 years service, also sought damages for deafness and was awarded another €2,650 as part of the overall award.
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