Carjacker assaults pregnant passenger

A man who carjacked a car and assaulted a heavily pregnant passenger in Dublin city centre yesterday has been arrested.

The husband of the seven-and-a-half month pregnant woman had been putting money into a parking meter on Hill St, near Mountjoy Square. The carjacker, in his 20s, got into the vehicle at around 3pm and drove off with the man’s wife in the passenger seat.

Gardaí in a passing patrol car saw the events unfold and gave chase.

It has been reported that the carjacker tried to push the woman out of the moving car before coming to a halt on Sean McDermott St and running away. He was quickly apprehended and arrested. He was found with a blood-filled syringe. He had also stolen the woman’s phone, which was recovered.

The woman, who is in her 30s, received treatment for minor injuries at the Rotunda Hospital and was due to remain in overnight for observation. Both the mother and her unborn child are understood to be in satisfactory condition.

The man was being detained last night at Store Street Garda Station under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

An investigation is currently underway.