A convicted murderer successfully sued the federal government for more than $24,000 after being beaten by other inmates in a New Brunswick prison.

Eric James Squires accused Corrections Canada of failing to protect him while he was serving time at the maximum security Atlantic Institute in Renous.

The Newfoundland native suffered a broken jaw, broken leg and bruising in two separate attacks in June 1999.

Justice Raymond Guerette ruled prison officials "failed in their duty to protect (Squires) from harm when the risk of danger was foreseeable in the circumstances."

Guerette said corrections officers testified inmates had branded Squire a "rat" for giving information about a fellow prisoner.

Squires was convicted in 1998 of first-degree murder in the death of Nina Walsh.