Four gardai were injured this morning when their patrol car was rammed during an investigation into burglaries and thefts in rural parts of counties Tipperary, Offaly, Laois and Carlow.
Shortly after midnight, a 4×4 car which was stolen in Co Laois last month, failed to stop at a checkpoint in Cloncourse in Portlaoise, ramming a garda car. The stolen vehicle then collided with a second patrol car. Four gardai were hurt and were taken to the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise with non-life-threatening injuries.
Three men are understood to have gotten out of the offending car, fleeing into a nearby field. Gardai, with the assistance of the Garda Air Support unit arrested them shortly afterwards. They are being held at Portlaoise and Tullamore garda stations.
Gardai from Tipperary, Laois/Offaly and Carlow/Kildare subsequently seized vehicles, trailers and farm equipment in follow-up searches.
Gardai have said that they are working closely with the IFA, the ICMSA and other organisations representative of the agricultural community to raise awareness about rural crime.
