Garda officer recovers from Cork crash
A garda is in a serious condition in hospital today after being mown down by a car - just a week after two of his colleagues were killed by speeding joyriders.
The young officer, named locally as Garda Brian Shanahan, was hurled 30 feet by the impact when he was hit by a car as he attended an accident scene on the outskirts of Cork city.
The driver of the car ran away but a man was arrested an hour later in the Mayfield area in connection with the incident.
It is understood that the car - a French-registered Opel Kadett - was involved in an earlier incident at a filling station on the Mallow Road before ploughing into the accident scene on the North Ring Road at 1.47am.
A police spokeswoman said: ‘‘The officer sustained a broken shoulder, pelvis and thigh bone and was taken to Cork University Hospital where he is being detained.
‘‘A man was later arrested and taken to Mayfield Garda station in connection with an earlier incident. He was released without charge and a file is being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.’’
Just hours after the incident dozens of officers gathered in Dublin to pay tribute to two colleagues who were killed by joyriders last Sunday.
Officers Michael Padden, 27, and 53-year-old Anthony Tighe died when a stolen Mazda tore into their patrol car as they attempted to stop other motorists driving into its path on the Stillorgan dual carriageway.
Officers from across Dublin gathered at the scene of the tragedy at 6.30am, the time of last week’s crash.
The latest incident involving a garda officer is certain to fuel a growing political row.
Just weeks ahead of a general election, crime has topped the agenda with ministers also coming under fire over a lack of secure accommodation provision for young offenders.
