LAST UPDATE | 5 Jan 2023

TWO MEN HAVE been arrested following an incident which left three police officers injured in Co Down in the early hours of this morning.

The incident happened at around 1.40am, when officers stopped a vehicle that was driving erratically in the Flagstaff Road area of Cloughoge, near Newry.

The vehicle stopped briefly but proceeded to repeatedly ram two police patrol vehicles, causing injuries to three police officers, one of whom required treatment in hospital.

A 32 year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a number of offences including driving with excess alcohol and driving whilst disqualified.

A 30-year-old man was also arrested on a number of offences. including causing danger to road users and possession of class B and class C controlled substance.

Both remain in police custody at this time.

“Our police officers work tirelessly at all hours of the day and night on behalf of the community to keep the community safe,” PSNI District Commander for Newry, Mourne & Down Superintendent Norman Haslett said.

“This type of behaviour is dangerous and reprehensible and it needs to stop. I wish the officers who have been injured as a result a speedy recovery.

“I would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have dash-cam or CCTV footage that could assist us with our enquiries to contact police on 101 quoting reference 103 of 05/01/23.”

Attacks in Newry

Meanwhile, the PSNI said today that 17 police officers were injured in attacks during the course of their duties in Newry Mourne and Down in December. 

District Commander, Superintendent Norman Haslett has spoken out to condemn each attack describing them as “shameful and unacceptable”. 

“In what other job would this happen? These are men and women who are working hard to keep their communities safe and this is how they are treated?” he said. 

“While we come to work knowing we could be faced with difficult and dangerous situations, it is completely unacceptable that our officers should be assaulted and verbally berated in the most shocking ways for simply doing their jobs.”

In one weekend alone in December, six constables were punched, kicked and headbutted. Some required hospital treatment and small number had to take some time off work to heal from their injuries.

Yesterday, a man lashed out at police within Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry at around 4.45am. 

“This was a particularly nasty assault. Two officers were bitten on the leg and one punched in the face, blood was also spat into the faces of two officers,” said Superintendent Haslett. 

“Our officers were seen by medical staff and, thankfully, their injuries were not more serious and they feel well enough to remain on duty. 

“But it highlights our message that all assaults on emergency service workers – be that a nurse, doctor, paramedic or police officer – are serious offences and there are serious consequences,” he said. 

“Six people have been charged to court already and risk jail time for these assaults in December. And a man has been reported to the Public Prosecution Service following this hospital attack on three counts of assault on police and criminal damage.

“Assaults on our officers are unacceptable, and will not be tolerated.”

With reporting by Hayley Halpin

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