Over 150 on-duty gardaí assaulted so far this year, new figures reveal

Over 150 gardaí have been assaulted while on duty so far this year, according to figures from the Department of Justice.

A total of 3,440 gardaí have been assaulted while on duty in almost 12 years.

There has been a higher than average number of reported assaults since 2022 when compared with previous years.

There were 299 assaults on gardaí while on duty in 2014; 301 in 2015; 282 in 2016; 264 in 2017; 224 in 2018 and 266 in 2019.

In 2020, there were 223 on-duty garda assaults, in 2021 there were 266, in 2022 there were 316, in 2023 there were 470, and in 2024 there were 373.

In the first six months of 2025, there was 156 assaults of on-duty gardaí reported, as of July 23.

“We are all immensely grateful to all our gardaí for their outstanding dedication and commitment to serving the public and for the important role that they play in our society,” the Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said in response to a parliamentary question from Aontu leader Peadar Toibin.

“For the most part, the relationship between gardaí and the public they serve is one built on very significant trust.

READ MORE: 'We've done nothing wrong' - Mother speaks out following alleged racial attack on young daughter

“We only have to look to the fact that An Garda Síochána is a largely unarmed, and yet hugely effective, community policing service.”

The figures were revealed following an incident where a probationary garda was injured in a knife attack while on patrol in Dublin’s Capel Street. Another garda was also punched in the face.

A man has appeared in court charged with the assault of the probationary garda.

“The recent unprovoked attack on a garda in Dublin has been rightly condemned by all. It was a truly shocking incident in our capital city,” Aontu Senator Sarah O’Reilly said.

The Senator said there was “no doubt our streets are becoming unsafe.”

“When the Dáil resumes, my party will be reintroducing our bill which seeks a mandatory minimum sentence for anyone who assaults a garda or frontline emergency worker.

“I’m hopeful that other parties will support our legislation in both the Dáil and the Seanad.

“These attacks on gardaí are not helping morale or recruitment to the force, the Government needs to support our legislation for harsher sentencing," Ms O'Reilly spoke. 

Anyone convicted for assaulting a garda, prison officer, firefighter, ambulance paramedic or a soldier can face a maximum prison sentence of 7 to 12 years.