Gardaí injured after patrol car is rammed

Two female gardaí were injured yesterday when their patrol car was struck head-on by another vehicle as they drove into an estate in Limerick to investigate a domestic incident.

One of the gardaí was treated for what is believed to be a neck and back injury.

A gold-coloured Rover was responsible for ramming the garda car, according to eye witnesses. The patrol car was badly damaged, and ambulances brought the two injured gardaí to the Mid-Westerrn Regional Hospital. They were both released last night.

Gardaí last night were hoping to interview the man who was driving the car involved. He was also injured and taken to the hospital.

The incident happened at lunch time as the patrol car entered the Brú na Gruadan estate near Castletroy. The gardaí were responding to a call related to a domestic incident when their patrol car was hit head-on.

The Garda Ombudsman Commission is investigating.

Meanwhile, uniformed gardaí on patrol in south Dublin foiled a suspected gangland assassination this week and arrested a serious criminal.

A handgun was discarded by a three-man gang after they were confronted by the two gardaí. When the Glock handgun was recovered, it was found to be loaded and fitted with a silencer.

The car driven by the patrolling gardaí was rammed by the gang, as they tried to make their escape in a high-powered Audi.

However, they were forced to abandon their vehicle and flee on foot, and one man was caught by gardaí.

The incident happened at around 10pm on Thursday in the Firhouse area of south Dublin.

The gardaí were on patrol as part of efforts to combat burglaries under Operation Anvil. When they were driving out of Dale Tree Place, they came across a car coming against them and believed the occupants were acting suspiciously.

Armed gardaí and the garda helicopter responded after their car was rammed.

In the search operation, gardaí came across a second car just 200 yards away, with a petrol can stashed near it.

Detectives suspect this was going to be used as a getaway vehicle before being burnt out.

“There was a life saved because of this,” said a garda source.

The 26-year-old man arrested is well-known to gardaí, as he previously served time for threatening a garda.

From Crumlin, the man is described by gardaí as a “serious criminal” and is independent of any of the well-known gangs in the Crumlin-Drimnagh area.

Forensic and DNA tests are being conducted on the gun to see if they can link it to the suspect, who is being questioned at Rathfarnham Garda Station.

Detectives said no one “jumped out” as a possible suspect in the area in question.