GARDAÍ FIRED a shot at two men who tried to escape in their car when an armed patrol moved in to question them about a spate of recent burglaries.
The two suspects were being questioned last night and, in line with protocol, the garda has informed the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission of the circumstances in which the gun was fired.
The incident happened when two armed detectives were patrolling in Omeath, Co Louth, early yesterday morning.
The armed gardaí were patrolling the area following a recent spate of burglaries. The armed patrol was part of Operation Anvil, which targets all forms of organised crime.
During their patrol, the armed gardaí saw the driver of another car quickly turn off the road in an apparent effort to evade the Garda car.
When the two detectives drove after the other vehicle, they found it had pulled into the driveway of a house. As the two detectives got out of their vehicle to approach the suspects’ car it reversed at the officers, ramming their car.
One of the detectives discharged a warning shot as the two men tried to flee the area. One of the men was arrested at the scene, while the other was detained a short distance away.
One of the men is from the Omeath area while the other suspect is from Dundalk. Both suspects are in their 20s.
They were detained under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act because, according to a Garda source, the detectives believed one of the men had a firearm.
One of the suspects is known to gardaí and has a number of convictions.
He had recently been released from prison following a burglary-related conviction.
Following the discharge of the garda’s weapon, the scene of the incident was sealed off and underwent an examination yesterday by members of the Garda Technical Bureau.
The car the two suspects were travelling in also underwent a forensic examination. Both men were still being questioned at Dundalk Garda station last night.
