Irish Daily Mirror

Two gardai ‘bitten and headbutted by driver’

Officers treated after ‘incident’

- BY JOHN HAND Chief Reporter news@irishmirro­r.ie

TWO gardai were assaulted as one was bitten and another was headbutted by a man after he was stopped in his Porsche jeep.

The incident happened in the beauty spot of Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal, in the Market Square area on Wednesday night.

The man – driving the car with a Northern registrati­on – came to gardai’s attention after allegedly colliding with parked cars and a building after 8pm.

Officers stopped him and tried arresting him but he kicked off and allegedly assaulted the pair.

Gardai later received medical treatment.

Garda Representa­tive Associatio­n president Frank Thornton last night condemned the alleged attack.

He said: “The assault of our colleagues in the Donegal Division is a stark reminder of the dangers frontline members face 24 hours a day.

“I wish my colleagues a speedy recovery and this incident is yet another example that this government needs to legislate for mandatory sentencing on all assaults on gardai.”

Although Dunfanaghy is a tourist hotspot, it is understand the man, aged in his 40s, is from Donegal.

A picture of his damaged car was shared on social media yesterday.

He is to appear before the courts at a later date where he will be charged.

It is understood he is facing one charge as it stands, but the assaults on the gardai are part of the ongoing investigat­ion.

A garda spokeswoma­n said: “An Garda Siochana are investigat­ing all the circumstan­ces surroundin­g these matters.”

The GRA has previously called for mandatory sentencing for all assaults and attacks on officers.

The assault is a stark reminder of the dangers FRANK THORNTON ON TWO INJURED OFFICERS

 ??  ?? ALERT
Frank Thornton
ALERT Frank Thornton

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Ireland