Man tried to strangle female garda after punching and biting her, say gardaí

It is claimed the female garda was punched in the face, bitten, and spat at by a male assailant when she and a colleague were called to a house in Finglas, west Dublin. File picture

A female garda was punched in the face, bitten, and spat at by a male assailant when she and a colleague were called to a house in Finglas, west Dublin.

The garda's attacker also tried to strangle her, forcing his arm around her neck.

The female garda is in the force a year and a half and her male colleague is just out of Garda Training College. In a statement Garda HQ said both gardaí were “physically and verbally abused” and had to be taken to hospital for treatment.

“Gardaí responded to report of an incident at a domestic residence in Finglas, Dublin 11 on Sunday 8th shortly after 3am,” the statement said.

“During the course of the incident two gardaí, a male and a female, were physically and verbally assaulted. Both members were brought to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.” 

It said welfare supports have been made available to the gardaí by local management. A man, aged in his 40s, was arrested at the scene and is due to appear at Blanchardstown District Court today.

'Vicious, cowardly assault'

Mark Ferris, representative of Dublin West Division for the Garda Representative Association, said he wished his colleagues a speedy recovery.

“What happened to them was a vicious, cowardly assault of the kind which we seem to be seeing far too often,” he said.

He said it should be condemned by all right‑thinking people.

Garda Ferris said: “The female garda, with just a year and a half’s service, told me the suspect punched her in the face, spat at her repeatedly, tried to strangle her by forcing his forearm around her neck, pulled her finger back in an effort to break it, and then bit her forearm drawing blood even after he was restrained.

“Her male colleague is only a few weeks out of Templemore. Both are feeling the very real physical and psychological effects of this attack, and they have asked me to publicly thank the members who came to their assistance.” 

He said gardaí know the risks when going out on duty but added that the risks seem to be increasing by the day.

Gda Ferris said:

There is a growing sense that such attacks are being normalised, and that is draining the morale on the frontline.

He added: "An assault on a garda is an assault on the State, and the State’s response must reflect that reality with appropriate resourcing, training and a criminal justice response reflective of the impacts. 

"This should be the minimum supports for those who are sent out to keep communities and the people within them safe.”