Garda injured as Kilkenny checkpoint rammed

A manhunt was launched this morning after a garda was seriously injured when a checkpoint was rammed by two cars in Kilkenny overnight.

The officer is in serious condition with head injuries at St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny.

Two cars with two trailers drove through a checkpoint at around 3am at Ballycondra, Ballyragget, striking the garda, who was on foot at the time.

Officers were investigating a suspected burglary. Seven men were involved in the incident.

A garda patrol car was also struck and its driver has received neck injuries.

He was taken to hospital, but later released.

One man was arrested and is being detained at Kilkenny Garda station under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

However, the remaining occupants of both vehicles were at large this morning after they fled the scene when one of the cars crashed in a field.

A Garda search of the area was underway and the services of the air support and dog units were requested.

Gardaí described the incident as urgent and asked anyone with information to come forward and contact them immediately.