Garda hurt after getting trapped between cars

A Garda suffered serious leg injuries after he was trapped between a car driven by suspected burglars and a patrol car.

Two other gardaí received minor injuries, prompting renewed calls from Garda representatives for legislative measures relating to assaults on police.

Gardaí in Balbriggan, north Dublin, were responding to reports of a burglary and a stolen vehicle on Saturday night, when they spotted a parked car. It is understood three members of the patrol car got out and that one approached the passenger door of the vehicle.

After speaking to the passenger, the garda opened the door, at which stage the driver reversed the car.

The garda was dragged backwards, as he held onto the door and became trapped between it and the patrol car.

He suffered serious leg injuries and was recovering in Beaumont Hospital last night, where his condition was described as stable.

A second garda tried to open the driver’s door after it hit the patrol car, but suffered hand injuries when the car drove forward and sped away. A third garda received minor injuries.

The car was then blocked in by another patrol vehicle. The driver and passenger, a man and a woman, jumped out and tried to flee on foot.

The pair, both aged in their 20s, were arrested and taken to Balbriggan Garda Station, where they were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

They were charged at the station and kept in custody, pending their appearance before Dublin District Court in the Criminal Courts of Justice this morning. Two Garda cars were damaged in the incident.

Garda Representative Association president Dermot O’Brien said: “We hope the gardaí all make a full and speedy recovery. Once again, this highlights the danger gardaí face.

Once again, we demand legislation be put in place to deter this kind of criminal activity.”