Youths attack gardaí arresting driver

TWO Cork gardaí were badly beaten yesterday morning when they were attacked by youths who attempted to stop them arresting a man on suspicion of drink driving.

A garda spokesperson said both gardaí were kicked, punched and head-butted and were receiving hospital treatment.

“Their injuries are serious, but not very serious,” the spokesperson said.

The gardaí received an anonymous phone call that a man was driving erratically in Ballincollig. They stopped a car at Innishmore Park at 12.15am and were surrounded by youths who then attacked them.

The man suspected of drink driving fled. Reinforcements were called but by the time they arrived the gang had also fled.

However, they managed to catch the suspected drink driver half an hour later. Described as being “well-known” to gardaí and from Mahon, he was taken into custody and later released.

“The gardaí got a fair beating. It was pretty vicious. We are appealing to anybody who was in the area to contact us if they saw anything,” said the spokesperson.

Ballincollig gardaí can be contacted at 021-4871905. Information can also be given to Gurranabraher gardaí at 021-4946200.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident in Cork city yesterday morning, night club revellers had to be cleared from a busy street after a man brandished two knives at gardaí and also threatened to harm himself.

Gardaí were called to St Augustin Street at 1am after reports that the man had started wielding the knives.

A garda spokesperson said he refused to hand over the weapons to two gardaí who tried to calm him down. After cordoning off the area the man repeatedly threatened them before wounding his hand.

When he then put the knife to his throat the gardaí overpowered him. They recovered the two knives and found another one in his pocket.

The man was taken to the Mercy Hospital for treatment and arrested after he was discharged.