Gardaí hospitalised after three assaults

THREE people were brought to court yesterday in connection with three separate assaults on gardaí in Dublin.

The attacks, which took place within the space of less than five hours, resulted in four gardaí being hospitalised.

The incidents started early yesterday morning:

At 1am a man walked into Shankill Garda Station in South Dublin, where he allegedly assaulted a garda sergeant, knocking him unconscious.

A garda spokesman said the sergeant was treated in hospital for concussion. He said the man also received a wound to his hand, but was not bitten, as reported earlier.

The garda was released at 6am.

Shortly after 1am, three gardaí were injured when they were attacked with a pepper spray when they went to investigate a suspected robbery at a Chinese restaurant in Summerhill, in Dublin’s north inner city.

The three officers were brought to hospital, but were subsequently released.

At around 5.30am a woman brandishing a knife tried to attack two gardaí in Blackrock Station. Gardaí say the woman threatened to kill the officers.

It is understood the woman had earlier entered the station and apparently concealed herself before pouncing on the two officers who had just come off patrol.

All three people involved in the alleged attacks were arrested and taken into custody.

A garda spokesman said the three were brought to district court yesterday morning and charged with public order and other offences.

The spokesman said the injuries received by the gardaí were relatively minor.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) said such incidents were not isolated and were happening on a routine basis.

“These kinds of incidents and attacks on our members are happening on a daily basis. For the most of it, the guards are unsung heroes, they get on with the job,” said GRA president Dermot O’Donnell.

“Sadly, it has become part and parcel of the job, an occupational hazard. The attacks are on the increase, both in the severity of the attacks and the falling age of those carrying out the attacks.”

He said the incidents show the general public the nature of police work and the pressure it places not only on officers but also on their families.

“We’re always concerned about these attacks and want to minimise them as much as possible.

“Unfortunately it is a fact of life and not an awful lot can be done.”

He called on Garda Síochána management to continue to improve security within stations and control access at entry points.