Two young men arrested after five people, including three gardaí, were injured in a collision involving a stolen van in Co Westmenath this morning, were to appear in front of the Special Sitting of Mullingar District Court this evening.
Two of the three injured gardaí were trapped in their patrol car after it collided with the van on the outskirts of Kinnegad at around 4.30 am.
Two young men were also cut from the van, and all five of the injured were treated at hospitals in Mullingar and Longford.
The extent of their injuries is unknown, but is not thought to be life-threatening.
One of the occupants of the van was arrested after beingt released from hospital.
The Fine Gael TD for Westmeath, Mr Paul McGrath this morning blamed the crash on the Government’s "failure" to tackle car thefts and joyriding.
"The total lack of resources available to the Gardaí to go about their job safely has left gardaí putting their lives at risk every time they take to the road."
He called for the immediate introduction of reinforced cars for protection.
Yesterday Fine Gael called for mandatory minimum sentences for car hijacking.
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