Crime gang caught after three-hour chase

Several Garda units spent over three hours chasing a two-man gang across Cork today following a spate of burglaries and a road accident.

Officers were alerted after a car was stolen from a house in the Rochestown area at 4.30am.

Detectives believe the same vehicle was used in raids on two pubs in Courtmacsherry a short while later.

Garda squad cars across the county chased the pair for several hours but the men, believed to be in their 20s, were not arrested until the car crashed in Cork city just before 8am.

The pair evaded arrest until a garda patrol spotted them in Ovens at 7am, around 25 miles from the scene of the pub raids.

Officers chased the car as it headed for Cork city. It was involved in a road accident on the way and it is understood a pedestrian suffered a broken leg in the crash. A garda car was also rammed during the chase.

The two man gang were arrested at Wellington Bridge in the city at around 7.50am after the car spun out of control and crashed.

The men were taken to Anglesea Street Garda Station and the Bridewell for questioning.