A GARDA sergeant suffered a fractured eye socket and another garda left with cuts and bruises after they were ambushed while on patrol.

The incident at Mount Uniacke, between Killeagh and Midleton in east Cork, only ended when garda reinforcements rushed to the area in the early hours of this morning.

Gardai arrested five people and are still seeking a sixth after the attack in which the two officers were targetted with stones and sticks as they conducted a routine patrol.

The five – four men aged 18, 22, 35 and 46 years and a 27-year-old woman – are expected to appear before Mallow District Court tomorrow morning in connection with the incident.

Gardai said the two officers were injured when they stopped to talk to two young men in an isolated area, but a car pulled up and its four occupants attacked them.

The sergeant suffered a blow from a rock to the face which fractured his eye socket and briefly knocked him unconscious. He remains in Cork University Hospital for treatment.

His colleague suffered cuts and bruises as he held off the group of six men and protected the injured officer.

“The offending vehicle then left the scene and drove off in the direction of Youghal,” said a Garda spokesman.

“At Mount Uniacke Village this vehicle rammed another Garda patrol car and continued in the direction of Dungourney.

“Gardai went to an address at Ballymartin, Dungourney and following another violent disorder incident where a number of gardai came under attack five people were arrested.”

The incident ended when an armed Regional Support Unit (RSU) deployed and the five were arrested following a brief stand-off near a local property.

A number of weapons, a car and cash have been seized.

All five, who are believed to be members of the Travelling community, were taken to Midleton, Cobh and Fermoy Garda Stations and are expected to be charged before the court in the morning.

Online Editors