Gardai suspend questioning of suspect for attack on two off-duty officers as he is unwell
by Michael O'Toole · Irish MirrorGardaí have had to suspend questioning of a suspect for the horror attack on two off-duty members of the force – because he is unwell.
It’s understood questioning of the suspect, who is a notorious street criminal in his 30s, was stopped over the weekend to allow him to receive medical treatment. His treatment is related to an underlying medical issue, sources say.
Officers hope to be able to question him on Tuesday over the incident in Dublin’s Temple Bar that saw two Gardaí attacked – leaving one with potentially life-changing head injuries.
That officer, who is in his 40s and a member of the armed support unit for the Dublin region, was critically ill in the city’s Beaumont Hospital on Monday night. He suffered devastating head injuries when he was punched from behind as he and a colleague in his 30s socialised in Temple Bar off-duty at around 1.30am on Saturday.
The officer fell to the ground after the punch and hit his head – sustaining the injuries. He underwent surgery at Beaumont Hospital on Sunday – but he is still described as being critically ill.
A suspect was identified and arrested by Gardaí from the city’s Pearse Street Station on Saturday night – but he allegedly struggled with officers and tried to escape. He was allegedly found with one of the officers’ mobile phones, sources say.
The suspect, who has convictions for assault, drugs and handling stolen goods, was arrested and held under section four of the Criminal Justice Act. That allows Gardaí to hold a suspect for a maximum of 24 hours, but he was still in custody on Monday night.
Sources told the Irish Mirror that was because he was medically unfit to be questioned. “The clock has stopped until he is fit to be questioned,” a source said.
Late on Sunday, Gardaí also arrested a second suspect and he was still in custody on Monday night. He is suspected of playing a lesser role in the attack than the first suspect. The second officer who was assaulted in the unprovoked attack was also hospitalised, but was discharged on Saturday evening.
Gardai continue to appeal for witnesses to the attack at the junction of Dame and Eustace streets in Temple Bar to come forward. The force said in a statement: “An incident room led by a senior investigating officer has been established at Pearse Street Garda Station. Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward.
“Any persons who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) from the Dame Street / Temple Bar area, between 1:00am and 1:45am, are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí. Gardaí are particularly looking to speak with any taxi drivers who were driving in the Dame Street area at the time and may have footage.
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Pearse Street Garda Station on 01 666 9000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”
The Garda Armed Support Unit is a specialist firearms squad and the officers that were attacked were attached to the Dublin regional ASU.
The ASU responds to incidents where firearms or other weapons are used. The highly-trained officers, who are armed with MP7 sub machineguns, Sig Sauer pistols and tasers, also respond to gangland incidents and are used to raid the homes of dangerous suspects.
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