Terrorist's pounds 13,500 for ankle injury

The convicted terrorist bomber Donna Maguire was awarded pounds 13,500 yesterday after she won a compensation claim over an injured ankle.

Miss Maguire, 29, of Newry, County Down, sued the Department of the Environment in the High Court in Belfast. She claimed damages for ankle injuries she suffered when she tripped on a footpath in her home town in 1985.

The 11-year delay in the case was caused by Miss Maguire being in custody in Germany for six years before she was convicted last June of being involved in a bombing at a British army base at Osnabruck in 1989. She was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment but was immediately released because of the time she had been in custody.

Miss Maguire said in evidence yesterday that she fell in Patrick Street, Newry, in June 1985 after her foot became trapped in a broken paving stone.

Mr Justice Pringle said that despite doubts and suspicions he had reached the conclusion that Miss Maguire fell because of a defect in the pavement. He awarded her pounds 12,000 for pain and suffering with the balance made up of interest and her loss of wages as a secretary.

The Department of the Environment denied liability and their lawyer was granted a six-week stay to appeal.