Three men arrested after garda cars rammed in chase

Pic: Darren Hall

Chase between Castlebar and Ballinrobe ended in a crash in the early hours of this morning

Anton McNulty

THREE men are being questioned this afternoon by gardaí in Castlebar Garda Station after they were arrested in relation to the ramming of three garda patrol car in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The three men aged 23, 20 and 16 years were arrested at the Kilmaine Road outside Ballinrobe, close to where a stolen Skoda Octavia had crashed. A short time earlier, the same car had rammed three garda patrol cars at two separate locations in an attempt to evade capture.
At around 3.30am, the Gardaí were informed that a blue Skoda Octavia had been stolen at Horsepark in Castlebar. This car was observed by a Garda patrol car on Station Rd. It then rammed the Garda car, and then left in the direction of Ballyheane. In the village of Ballyheane the Skoda again rammed the Garda car, causing extensive damage.
At 4.30am the stolen Skoda car was observed in the Ballintubber area by another Garda unit, this Garda car was also rammed by the Skoda in the townland of Kilkerrin, Partry. A number of Garda units including an Armed Support Unit were in the area searching for the offending car.
At approximately 4.30am, the stolen Skoda car was observed in the Ballintubber area by another Garda unit. This garda car was also rammed by the Skoda in the townland of Kilkerrin, Partry.
A number of Garda units including an Armed Support Unit were in the area searching for the offending car, which was located a short time later crashed on the Kilmaine Road.
All three males were arrested at the scene and detained at Castebar Garda Station under the provisions of Section 4 – Criminal Justice Act 1984.
Two members of An Garda SíochΡna sustained minor injuries but were later discharged from Mayo University Hospital. The three men remain in custody. They will be either charged with an offence or released tomorrow.