Man in handcuffs escapes gardai after violent disturbances in Cork

Gardai in Cork are searching for a man in handcuffs who escaped from Garda custody during a disturbance between officers and o ver 30 youths .

The incident began at 1.30am on Thursday when gardai from Mayfield were attacked when they were responding to a call regarding a mental health patient in the Glen area .

A group of about 30 youths began attacking the two officers on Glen Avenue with rocks and bottles and the two officers were forced to retreat and await reinforcements.

A further eight gardai arrived and arrested the suspected ring leader of the attack and placed him in handcuffs in the back of one of the patrol cars.

But the gang of youths intensified their attack, showering the gardai and their patrol cars with rocks, bottles and other material and in the disturbance, the arrested man managed to flee.

Gardai gave chase but the man managed to escape and gardai were forced to call for further re-inforcements with officers coming from across the city as well as Fermoy, Bandon and Midleton.

One garda received an injury to the leg after being struck by a rock while several patrol cars were damaged including one which had its windscreen smashed during the sustained attack.

Supt Mick Comyns of Mayfield Garda Station said it was fortunate no one suffered serious injury in the disturbance and he appealed to locals in the area for assistance in locating the escaped prisoner.

Anyone with any information about the whereabouts of the escaped prisoner or those involved in last night’s disturbance is asked to contact Mayfield Garda station on 021-4558510.

Three men aged 18, 19 and 20 and all from the Glen area are due in court on violent disorder charges in connection with the incident.