Garda critical after being knocked down by car thieves

A 29-year-old garda is in a critical condition in hospital after being knocked down by car thieves in Co Donegal this morning.

The garda and two colleagues were responding to reports of suspicious activity at the Tara Court estate in Letterkenny at about 4.30am.

On arrival, they used their patrol car to block a wine-coloured Peugeot which was towing a white Toyota that had been stolen from outside a house. It is understood the gardaí got out of their patrol car to speak to the driver, who then drove forward, pinning one of them to a wall.

The injured officer was taken to Letterkenny General Hospital with head and arm injuries.

He was later transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin where he is said to be in a critical condition.

One of the other gardaí received minor injuries to an arm while the third was unhurt.

A 17-year-old man was arrested at the scene while a second man, aged 19, was later detained near Milford. They are being questioned under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act at Letterkenny Garda station.

The scene has been preserved for technical examination and the Peugeot and Toyota have been seized.

The injured garda is originally from Swinford, Co Mayo. He has been serving in Letterkenny since he graduated from Templemore Garda College in 2006.

Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern said he was "outraged" by the incident.

He said he had spoken with the Garda Commissioner to express his hopes that the injured Garda would make progress from his "very serious injuries". He would remain in "close contact" with senior Garda management on the matter.

"What occurred near Letterkenny this morning was the actions of a mindless individual who appeared intent on inflicting serious injury if not death," Mr Ahern said.

"This brave young Garda and his colleagues were carrying out their duties in the interests of public safety. The driver of the vehicle involved behaved in such a reckless manner that he had absolutely no regard for human life."

Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan said he was appalled by the incident. “Yet again, dedicated gardaí have been placed in the firing line,” he said. “Such reckless behaviour against the authorities cannot be tolerated, especially where it endangers life.”

Labour’s justice spokesman Pat Rabbitte described the “vicious and cowardly” attack as a deliberate attempt to kill or maim gardaí doing their duty.

”It emphasises once again the risks that members of the Garda are expected to take every day and the debt of gratitude we all owe them,” he said.