Greater Manchester Police Settles Civil Case After Custody Assault Leaves Man with Permanent Injuries
Greater Manchester Police has made a substantial five-figure payout to a man who suffered a fractured eye socket and nearly lost his vision following an alleged assault while in custody. Anthony Giblin, a 59-year-old sales executive, endured what he describes as a "terrifying experience" that has left him with lasting physical and psychological scars.
Violent Arrest and Emergency Surgery
The incident occurred in July 2021 when Giblin was arrested on suspicion of breaching a court order and taken to Swinton police station. According to his account, four officers forcibly pushed him face-first onto a cell bed, punched him causing his eye socket to fracture, then stripped him naked and left him bleeding for ten minutes before responding to his distress calls.
"In that moment, naked and covered in blood, I thought my life was over," Giblin recalled. "I felt one of them punch me and a bone break in my face."
Following the assault, officers transported Giblin to Salford Royal Hospital where a CT scan confirmed the severity of his injuries. He underwent emergency surgery while awake to relieve pressure behind his eye, a procedure that doctors said prevented permanent blindness.
Lasting Physical and Psychological Damage
Despite the successful surgery, Giblin has been left with permanent numbness and a marginal but permanent reduction in his eyesight. The psychological impact has been equally devastating, with the father-of-two reporting ongoing anxiety whenever he sees or hears police vehicles.
"It's been nearly six years since it happened, but I still feel anxious when I see or hear a police vehicle," Giblin explained. "My mind races, and I assume they are coming to get me. That mistrust in an institution that is meant to protect you doesn't just go away."
Connection to Broader Pattern of Misconduct
Giblin was one of three men who provided evidence to the independent Baird Inquiry, which examined experiences of people arrested and taken into GMP custody. The 2024 report, described by former Victims' Commissioner Dame Vera Baird as containing "horror stories," concluded that GMP had engaged in unlawful arrests and strip searches, with evidence of people being "humiliated" in custody.
Lauren Halliday, civil liberties lawyer at Broudie Jackson Canter who represented Giblin, emphasized the broader implications: "Unfortunately, it is clear from the Baird report that our client is not alone. The police have a duty to protect the public and uphold the law in a safe and reasonable manner."
Legal Settlement and Ongoing Trauma
GMP has settled Giblin's civil case through an out-of-court settlement, though the exact figure remains undisclosed. The force stated the claim was settled on a without prejudice basis.
Giblin's legal team argued that the officers' actions formed part of a wider pattern of similar egregious behavior identified in the Baird Inquiry report, which they described as one of the case's "extremely serious aggravating factors."
The Baird report made 26 recommendations for reform, including abolishing strip searches for welfare reasons. For Giblin, the settlement brings some financial compensation but little relief from the trauma.
"I was an innocent man who had been arrested due to a fictitious report, but instead of being treated with dignity and listened to, I was assaulted and nearly lost my eyesight due to their brutality," Giblin stated. "I am still in disbelief that this happened to me."
Following the incident, Giblin was taken to court the next day where he collapsed in the dock. The judge declared him free to go, and he was acquitted of all charges.
