LAST UPDATE | 28 Aug 2022

A MAN HAS been charged and is due to appear before a court this evening charged in relation to an incident in which a Garda was injured after he was as carried on a car for a distance before falling in Co Kildare.

The Garda is currently recovering after the incident which occurred at around 11.45pm on Friday when a car was stopped on the R403 close to Barberstown Roundabout in Straffan.

Gardaí were in the process of seizing the car when the driver fled the scene.

A member of the force attempting to stop the car was carried on the vehicle for a distance before falling. The male garda was taken to Naas General Hospital to be treated for head and upper body injuries.

He has since been released from hospital and is recovering at home.

In a statement, the Garda Representative Association wished their colleague a quick recovery.

“This incident shows just how dangerous traffic stops or any interaction involving vehicles. This association has repeatedly called for better training for members to try and mitigate or reduce some of the risks,” GRA President Brendan O’Connor said in a statement. 

We have consistently called for out of car safety training for all operational members which currently is not provided. Any situation where members are operating in live traffic has the potential to become life threatening in an instant.

A man in his 20s was arrested on Saturday morning in connection with the incident following a search of the area by a number of Garda units.

Gardaí confirmed this evening that they have charged the arrested man and he is due to appear before a special sitting of Naas District Court this evening at 7.45pm.

Gardaí are still appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward.

They are asking any road users who may have dash-cam footage and were travelling in the Straffan/Barberstown Cross areas and the Straffan village area between 11.40pm on Friday and 12.15am on Saturday to make this footage available to them.

Anyone with information can contact Leixlip Garda Station on 01-6667800 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666-111.