Government criticised as stabbed sergeant recovers

THE sergeant stabbed by a man on Sunday who then took his own life, is expected to make a full recovery — but the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has slammed the Government’s continued failure to protect officers with proper health and safety measures.

Trevor Clancy of Pike Road, Fermoy, Co Cork, stabbed Sgt John Liston in the abdomen after the garda responded to a call that the young man had been refused entry to a nightclub in the north Cork town.

He and another garda spoke to the 26-year-old at Pearse Square but the young man would not hand over two knives he was carrying.

When the two officers drew their batons, Mr Clancy stabbed Sergeant Liston before walking over to a local war memorial and killing himself by placing the weapons against his chest and pushing himself against a wall. He died in front of his parents who had been called to the scene.

Sergeant Liston had surgery on Sunday afternoon and is expected to make a full recovery and leave hospital in the coming days.

However, Willie Gleeson of the AGSI said his stabbing showed how essential it was that gardaí were equipped with proper health and safety measures.

“Michael McDowell has said anti-stab and anti-ballistic vests are to come on stream at 1,000 per week from this month. But they should have been in place already. If John or his colleague had them a serious injury could have been avoided.

“We should have retractable batons which can extend rather than the short timber batons. We should have non-lethal aids such as taser and sprays such as CS gas and pepper which would incapacitate the person without having to get too close. These can also be used for the protection of the person by stopping them from harming themselves.

“In this day and age there is a proliferation of people carrying weapons and our members need protection.”

Meanwhile local priest Father Andrew Carville was with the Clancy family yesterday. He said: “All we can do is try to offer comfort. The family are obviously very upset.”

Superintendent Tom Hayes, leading the investigation into the incident again asked yesterday that anyone who saw anything suspicious or who has information on Mr Clancy’s last movements contact gardaí on 025-82100.