Gardaí searching for gang that attacked squad car during pub raid

GARDAÍ are searching for a group of people who smashed up their patrol car and stole a number of items from it.

The gardaí were busy taking names of people who were found in a pub after hours.

The traffic corps car was attacked by a mob who gardaí believe left via a window shortly after they arrived at the pub in Kilmichael in West Cork.

When gardaí returned to the vehicle, three of its windows had been smashed in with rocks. The side of the car had been kicked and scratched with knives or screwdrivers, and a number of official items, as well as personal items belonging to the gardaí, had been stolen, along with four hub caps.

A senior garda spokesman said that such criminal damage was totally out of character for the area, but added that it was fortunate neither of the traffic corps members were injured.

The incident happened when gardaí went to inspect a pub in the Kilmichael area. They arrived at 2.10am on Sunday to discover a crowd of about 40 people in the pub.

“There were a large number of people in the premises at the time, but we believe a number of them got out via a window,” the garda spokesman said.

Gardaí took several names while they were inside the pub, and only discovered the damage to their patrol car about 20 minutes later when they returned to the car park.

A search was undertaken in a nearby field the following day, during which some items belonging to the two gardaí were recovered.

Gardaí also found three of the four hubcaps.

“We estimate the damage to the vehicle could be worth up to €4,000,” the spokesman said.

He said it was extremely unusual for such criminal damage to be done in an area which is known for its law-abiding population.

“Nevertheless, it is a very serious matter and we are treating it very seriously, I can assure you,” the garda spokesman said.

He said gardaí were anxious to hear from anybody who witnessed the attack on the patrol car, which probably took place between 2.10am and 2.30am at the car park of the pub at Johnstown, Kilmichael.

Anybody with information is asked to contact Macroom gardaí at 026-20590.