LAST UPDATE | 22 Sep 2023

A MALE GARDA HAS been injured by a noxious spray in Dublin following a pursuit of a stolen car last night.

The Journal understands that a female suspect assaulted a uniform Garda with a substance believed to be ammonia to the face yesterday in the Liberties area of Dublin.

The woman, who is in her 30s, has been arrested and is being detained at a garda station in the city centre for an offence contrary to Section 3 of the Criminal Justice Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1991.

The injured garda, who is in his 20s and is stationed in Kilmainham, received necessary medical attention for injuries are not life-threatening. Garda welfare services have been made available to him. 

Posting on Twitter today, General Secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) Antoinette Cunningham labelled the attack as “disgraceful”.

A disgraceful attack on a @gardainfo colleague who had ammonia sprayed at them when trying to arrest suspects in an incident. To have a chemical which can cause burns & irritation sprayed at you while trying to do your job is a despicable act & one that is condemned @AGSI_Ireland https://t.co/3LuqeBShWe

— antoinette (@antoabs) September 22, 2023

“To have a chemical, which can cause burns & irritation, sprayed at you while trying to do your job is a despicable act & one that is condemned,” Cunningham said.

Gardaí were pursuing a stolen car imported from Asia that was then abandoned in the area of the Basin Street Flats in Dublin 8. A hatchet was later found in the car.

The Journal has previously reported on how the European Union made immobilisers a legal requirement on new cars in 1996 but second-hand and import cars from Asia do not have to meet this requirement today.

A garda statement said that “on the evening of Thursday, September 22, 2023, at approximately 8:45 pm, while conducting active patrols in the Basin Street area of Dublin 8, Gardaí initiated a vehicle stop and engaged with two individuals”.

“During this encounter, the driver of the vehicle assaulted one of the gardaí. Subsequently, both occupants of the car fled the scene on foot,” the statement said.

“The vehicle, a car which had been reported stolen earlier this month in the Dublin area, was recovered and removed from the scene for forensic and technical examination.”

Ammonia is a base chemical that is commonly used in household cleaning.

Fianna Fáil’s spokesperson for Justice, Senator Robbie Gallagher has condemned the attack on a member of the Gardaí. 

Gallagher, who served as a garda for ten years, said: “I condemn in the strongest possible terms this cowardly attack that was carried out on a member of the Gardaí who was simply doing their duty. I wish the Garda involved a full and speedy recovery.”

“This intolerable attack is a stark reminder of the dangers Gardaí face and the need for us to come down harder on those that think they can attack a Garda or any member of our emergency services,” he added. 

Gallagher said that he previously brought forward legislation which would have ensured a minimum sentence of five years for anyone charged with the assault of a member of the emergency services, unless a court decides it would be unjust due to specific circumstances. 

“This attack highlights the urgent need to act so we have the most stringent of sentences for those who assault Gardaí,” he added. 

Additional reporting by Niall O’Connor and Muiris O’Cearbhaill