Investigation under way after two women were struck by Garda car during chase

An investigation is under way after two pedestrians were injured when they were hit by a Garda car in pursuit of a stolen vehicle…

An investigation is under way after two pedestrians were injured when they were hit by a Garda car in pursuit of a stolen vehicle driven by two armed robbers.

Gardβi said the pedestrians, two women - one in her early 50s, the other in her late 20s - did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

The older woman received back, neck and head injuries, while the younger woman suffered bruising to the leg and side.

A senior Garda source at Ballyfermot confirmed that a full investigation would take place.

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The incident occurred during a chase following an armed robbery at Canpak Ltd, Merrywell Industrial Estate, Ballymount Road Upper, Dublin.

Two robbers, aged in their 20s, wearing dark jackets and armed with a firearm and a machete, gained access to the family-run business shortly before 1 p.m. yesterday.

Gardβi said the men dragged a female member of staff downstairs and kicked and punched her.

A male member of staff intervened and was struck on the head with the machete, an injury which required stitches.

The robbers demanded the firm's wages, and stole about £700 of petty cash.

They then went to an adjoining premises where they stole, at gunpoint, a Toyota Landcruiser from its owner.

They drove at speed towards the Naas Road.

An unmarked Garda detective car began to chase the Jeep.

At the junction of Ballyfermot Road and Le Fanu Road (known locally as Grange Cross), the vehicle struck a traffic island, went out of control and mounted the footpath, striking the pedestrians, who were taken to St James's Hospital.

The gardβi involved were uninjured, but were said to be in shock.

The stolen Landcruiser continued along the Ballyfermot Road without the pursuing Garda car.

On the Drumfin Road, it crashed into a Nissan Micra, pushing it into another car, a Peugeot.

The driver of the Micra, a man in his early 30s, had to be cut from his car by members of Dublin Fire Brigade.

He was also taken to St James's, where his condition was described by gardβi last night as not serious.

The driver of the Peugeot, a woman in her 20s, suffered whiplash injuries.

The Landcruiser then crashed into a wall at Cloiginn Park, and its occupants fled on foot through back gardens.

Gardβi have taken the stolen vehicle for technical examination.

They are appealing to witnesses to the robbery or the crashes to contact them.

A senior garda at Ballymun offered his sympathies to the victims of the accidents.

A number of gardβi have been appointed to investigate the accident.

Garda∅ say anyone with any information about either the robbery or the subsequent crashes should contact Ballyfermot Garda Station at 01-6667200.