Police officer awarded £400,000

A police officer who was shot by an undercover soldier while on duty in Belfast seven years ago has been awarded over £400,000 in compensation.

Stephen Mullock, 49, sued the Ministry of Defence after he alleged the soldier had been negligent in the control and discharge of a gun.

After the incident Mr Mullock had to give up an active police career and take up a desk job in the PSNI.

Mr Mullock was shot after he stopped the soldier's car on 14 January 1998.

He had given chase to the vehicle, turning on his car's blue light and two tone horn, after he had seen it acting suspiciously.

The soldier stopped her car close to Carlisle Circus in the north of the city and got out and shot Mr Mullock, even those he was wearing his Royal Ulster Constabulary uniform.

Mr Mullock's barrister told the High Court in Belfast that the action had been settled for £416,000.

In court papers it was claimed the soldier had failed to respond to requests and efforts to stop and had failed to show adequate regard for the fact that the car driver following him was a police officer acting in the course of his duty.

It was also alleged that the soldier opened fire when it was not necessary to do so.

The papers stated that Mr Mullock had never been given an explanation for the shooting and no apology was ever offered.

This led to a claim for aggravated and exemplary damages because of what was described as the MoD's "arbitrary and oppressive behaviour".