THE wife and children of wrongly jailed Donegal nightclub owner Frank Shortt, this week agreed a six figure compensation settlement with the State.
Mr Shortt was wrongly jailed for three years after rogue gardai framed him and perjured themselves to have him convicted of knowingly allowing drugs to be sold at his Point Inn nightclub.
Mr Shortt's conviction was quashed and he was awarded ¤1.9 million in compensation, an amount has appealed to the Supreme Court.
While he was released in 1998 he was not granted a miscarriage of justice certificate until 2002.
Mr Shortt's wife Sally and their five children, aged 24 to 34 received the compensation from the State for the distress and suffering caused by their father's wrongful imprisonment.
The details of the settlement are confidential.
Speaking on Tuesday their eldest son Jalisco said the family were happy that the matter had been resolved.
TRAUMA
"No amount of money could ever reflect the trauma that we have went through really. It wasn't about the money. It was about clearing our father's name, that was the main thing all the way along and finally we now feel that we have done so, and we are all happy now and we would just like to go home and live our lives," Mr Shortt jnr said.
The family were in the High Court to hear Counsel for the State Mr Michael Cush SC read a statement which formed part of the settlement.
"On behalf of the State I wish to acknowledge that the wrong done to Mr Frank Shortt has had serious consequences for his family and has caused each member of his family considerable suffering and distress.
"The State does not accept it can have any legal liability for such consequences but, in the unique circumstances which have arisen, is happy to reach accommodation with the plaintiffs on an ex-gratia basis," Mr Cush said.
Sabrina Shortt (28) spoke after the case about how traumatic it was at 16 years of age to have her father sent to prison.
Mrs Sally Shortt said as a result of her husband's wrongful imprisonment she was deprived of the normal joy of marriage and had to cope on her own with the children. She endured financial worries, ill health and the appointment of a receiver to the family business, The Point Inn nightclub. She lost her own good name and was shunned by respectable society because of her husband's alleged drug dealing.
Mr Shortt's appeal of his ¤1.9 million compensation award is due to be ruled on by the Supreme Court shortly.
