Higgins visits injured garda after getting freedom of Cork

President Michael D Higgins took time out of his busy schedule yesterday to visit a hero garda who was seriously injured as he tried to protect the public during a high-speed rampage by occupants of a stolen van.

Just minutes after becoming the sixth president to be bestowed with the Freedom of Cork City, he decided to pay a private visit to Garda Michael Twomey.

The motorcycle garda received serious back and rib injuries after he was thrown into the air when the van careered into him on the outskirts of the city last week.