Teenager sues Garda chief over injuries after being kicked multiple times in the head
A teenager who sustained shocking head injuries during a traffic arrest is now suing the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice in the High Court.
Papers were filed on May 15 by solicitor David Harrington, acting for Justin Covaci who is suing through his mother Florina.
The civil case comes as Fiosru – formerly the Garda Ombudsman Commission – is carrying out its own investigation into Justin's claims that the injuries occurred as a result of being kicked several times in the head by an officer following a traffic stop in Dublin.
It's understood Fiosru has taken statements from a number of those present on the night of November 23, 2024 when the stop occurred.
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A Garda spokesperson previously said the stop had occurred after an alleged incident of dangerous driving and that the driver was released pending referral to the youth diversion programme.
In an interview with the Sunday World, Justin alleged that he had sustained two black eyes, a haemorrhage in his left eye and cuts requiring seven stitches as a result of being kicked in the head 'two or three times' after he was removed from his vehicle, restrained on the ground and cuffed.
Justin said he had been dropping friends home in his mother's 141-Audi when he accidentally pulled out in front of a Garda jeep, causing it to swerve to avoid a collision.
'I was dropping the lads home. I was coming out of my estate, there's a left turn going towards the Whitestown area and a left turn going towards Centra in Huntstown.
'I took the right turn and as soon as I did I saw a white jeep coming at a high speed.
'At the time I jammed on the brakes but they had to swerve to avoid me … if he didn't swerve, there would have been an impact … probably a deadly impact.
'I drove away thinking everything was all good and I drove on for about 20 or 30 seconds when I saw the blue lights behind me.
'I panicked at the start. I didn't know what to do really – why they were telling me to stop.
'So, initially, I did drive on. I drove on about 10 or 20 seconds more and then I put the hazard lights on before I came to a stop.
'They hopped out of the car, my doors were locked and then three of them rushed up. I was still in the car so I unlocked the doors because they were banging on the windows fairly hard.
Justin Covaci
'As soon as I opened the door, one of them threw me on the floor and he put me into handcuffs straight away.
'And then boom .. I got a few strikes in the head … two or three kicks straight in the middle of the face.
'They brought me back to Finglas Garda Station and I was detained there for a while until my ma came.'
Speaking of his injuries, Justin said:
'At the moment I have blurred vision but I have to go back again for a check-up.'
Justin had seven stitches above and below his eye after the incident
Florina said she brought her son back to Finglas Garda Station to make a formal complaint of assault against the arresting gardaí.
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