News In Focus
28 February 2007
£8,000 for woman knocked over by police officer
A pensioner has been awarded £8,000 in damages after being knocked over by a police officer chasing a suspect.
Sheriff Ian Miller at Glasgow Sheriff Court ruled that the officer had failed to take reasonable care for the safety of pedestrians when he knocked over Mary Reilly, 74, in the east end of Glasgow at the time of the accident on 9 June 2002.
PC Scott McCarren and a colleague had been called to an attempted car theft by a known offender. PC McCarren had given chase, sprinting through a crowd waiting for an Orange Walk and knocking Mrs Reilly over. He did not realise what had happened and bystanders were left to attend to her while he carried on with his pursuit.
Mrs Reilly suffered two fractures, which caused chronic ulcers and repeated nosebleeds, and an injury to her forehead. She still suffered joint pain and a loss of confidence when outside.
Sheriff Miller said the officer had owed a duty to take reasonable care for the safety of pedestrians and avoid exposing people to the risk of injury. In the circumstances he ran too fast to avoid Mrs Reilly and failed to keep a proper lookout.