Pounds 14,000 award for Maze assault

Veteran Belfast republican Mr Martin Meehan (52), from the Ardoyne area, north Belfast, was awarded £14,000 yesterday for an assault by prison officers in the Maze nearly 10 years ago. Judge John McKee awarded Mr Meehan £6,500 for his injuries and then doubled the amount to 'express the court's abhorrence' of the excessive force used by prison staff. The judge added another £1,000 to compensate Mr Meehan for the humiliation he had to endure.