Gardaí hurt after cars rammed

Seven gardaí have been injured after three cars they were travelling in were rammed by a suspected robber.

One officer required stitches to lacerations on his hands after the incident in Co Wicklow.

Gardaí said the officers were responding to reports of a robbery at St Fergal's Church in Bray shortly before 1pm. The ramming incident occurred after a high-speed pursuit out of the town.

Two marked garda patrol cars and an unmarked garda car were hit in the collision.

Gardaí said officers gave chase from Bray to Greystones and when the suspected robber, driving a black Mitsubishi Lancer, reached the harbour he turned back towards Bray.

The ramming incident occurred a short while later at Windgates.

A man in his 30s was arrested and detained under section four of the Criminal Justice Act at Bray garda station following the crash.

The injuries to the gardaí are not serious.

It is understood the robbery involved money from collection boxes at the church.

Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to the incident to contact them.

PA