Assault leaves garda’s nose broken

A YOUNG garda had her nose broken during an “extremely violent” drink-fuelled incident in Castleisland, Co Kerry, at the height of St Patrick’s Weekend festivities.

Garda Liz Twomey, in her 20s, was trying to put a woman into a custody wagon when she sustained the injury. She and two other gardaí received hospital treatment following the incident.

Sgt Dermot O’Connell, Killarney, yesterday said the consequences could have been more serious only for the intervention of an off-duty garda from Dublin.

According to gardaí, Garda Twomey and Garda Ronan Coleman, also in his twenties, were verbally abused and threatened by a group of five people as they patrolled in Castleisland at around 12.30am on Saturday.

Sgt John O’Mahony, of Castleisland, was called to the scene and found that a young woman in the process of being arrested by Garda Twomey assaulted Garda Twomey by striking out at her and headbutting her.

As Garda Coleman was trying to arrest one of the men, he was thrown over the bonnet of a car and kicked on the ground by three others.

Sgt O’Connell said it was fortunate the off-duty garda came on the scene at this stage.

‘’He got out of his car very quickly, ran to the assistance of the other gardaí and helped bring the situation under control,” he said.

A man and a woman, both in their early twenties, were arrested.