Rescue efforts under way after garda is swept away by river

A MAJOR rescue operation was launched last night after a man in his 20s was swept away by a swollen river.

Gardaí have confirmed that the off-duty garda, who at the time of going to press was still missing, was swept away by a tributary of the Liffey in the Wicklow mountains just after 7pm.

The full details of the incident are not yet known but it is thought the garda was attempting to come to the assistance of a number of other people in danger during the freak weather. He was travelling on a quad bike in an effort to guide people and traffic to safety and was somehow dragged into the water.