Hooded gangsters stab gardaí in extortion raid

John Breslin

Doctors feared for the life of Garda Dave Comer at one point, as he suffered severe blood loss following the attack shortly before midnight on Wednesday.

He is now in a stable, though still serious, condition in Mater Hospital, Dublin. A second garda, James Hendricks, who was also stabbed, was released from hospital yesterday afternoon.

Gardaí leading the investigation revealed yesterday that the two members were stabbed with a blunt instrument, possibly a screwdriver. However, other weapons, including knives and meat cleavers, were discovered at the scene.

The terraced house in Main Street, Raheny, was cordoned off yesterday as forensic officers carried out an examination.

Two men, both Chinese nationals, were arrested following a major search operation involving the garda helicopter and the dog unit.

The pair escaped out the back of the house but one was caught a short time after the stabbing, the other at 12.45pm.

The two men were being detained last night in Raheny and Howth Garda stations.

Neighbours said there was a huge amount of Garda activity as squad cars and the helicopter carried out the search. Two ambulances were also sent to the scene.

Gardaí said a third person may have been part of a gang that was extorting money from fellow Chinese nationals, the four occupants of the house, two male and two female.

A neighbour had alerted gardaí after hearing a disturbance at around 11.30pm. The two gardaí were dispatched from Howth Station to investigate.

When Garda Comer, originally from Galway, stepped inside the house, he was attacked by at least two, and possibly three, hooded men.

He was dragged to safety by his colleague, Corkman Garda Hendricks, who was also attacked.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell paid tribute to the two members, as opposition politicians called for a review of call-out procedures and for protective vests to be standard issue.

Minister McDowell said: “Today we have two brave gardaí in hospital who have literally put their lives on the line for the law.”

On the issue of equipment, the minister said gardaí should not carry firearms and added that it was unlikely they would ever wear stab proof vests as standard.

However, he said it was a matter for the Garda Commissioner. “If he recommends to me that members of An Garda Siochána should have that kind of equipment I won’t stand against him and them putting that into effect.”

Superintendent Nick Conneely, who is leading the investigation, has asked members of the public who saw anything suspicious involving members of the Chinese community in the Raheny area between 11pm on Wednesday and 12.45am to contact detectives in Raheny.