Man arrested over assault on Dublin fireman

A man was arrested last night in connection with an assault on a fireman in Dublin city centre.

The victim is understood to have been part of a fire crew responding to reports that a person was in the River Liffey.

He was head-butted by a man at around 11.00pm on Aston Quay, near the Ha'penny Bridge. His injuries required a number of stitches.

A man (28) was arrested at the scene and taken to Pearse Street Garda station. He was later released and is due to appear in court on July 4th.

Another fireman was injured in an attack in Fairview Park in north Dublin earlier this month.

He needed 35 stitches to facial injuries after he was hit by a glass bottle thrown by a member of the public. He was also part of a Dublin fire brigade unit that was responding to an emergency call.

Siptu said attacks on firemen were becoming increasingly common, with a number of incidents each week, both in the capital and elsewhere around the country.

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said today he deeply condemned the two attacks, which he described as a "cowardly acts of hatred", and urged the public to help gardaí catch those responsible.

He insisted the new Criminal Justice Bill going through the Dail would introduce new protections for members of the emergency services.

"There are many people out in the community who know who these people are who are attacking emergency services workers," Mr McDowell said.

"The recent event in Fairview was one in which hundreds of people witnessed a fireman being very badly mutilated in an act of gratuitous thuggery.

"It is the duty of every citizen . . . not just to prattle on about his or her rights, but to help the gardaí . . . prosecute and bring to justice those guilty of such cowardly acts of hatred towards authority and hatred towards those who are doing a good job helping society."