A BRAVE garda nearly died after he was dragged 50 metres along the street yesterday — allegedly by a crazed driver who once claimed to be having the devil’s baby.

Garda Tom Gallagher’s kneecap was dislocated and his arms and legs were beaten up as he tried to seize a couple’s car along with a colleague in Dublin.

7 Garda Tom Gallagher

7 The crashed Volvo at the scene of the incident in Dublin Credit: JOHN DARDIS

A source said: “There’s no doubt about it — Garda Gallagher and his colleague could easily have been killed in this incident.”

The woman last night being quizzed about the madness was ­previously convicted on three counts of making threats to injure gardai with a blood-filled syringe in November and December 2013.

Christina Joyce — who claimed she was having the devil’s baby and was suffering from drug-induced hallucinations — received a three-year suspended sentence over the threats.

Yesterday’s drama unfolded when Gda Gallagher and Gda Paul Nolan, from Pearse Street Garda Station’s Traffic Unit, stopped a silver Volvo jeep in Baggot Street at around 11am.

7 Christina Joyce

Once the motor had pulled over, the two cops quickly established the vehicle had no insurance, no tax and the driver had no licence.

But once they told the driver and her male pal that the vehicle was being seized, they sped off and pulled along the ­terrified officer, who was standing between the door and driver’s seat.

The Volvo was then driven towards parked cars before the officer was flung into a number of vehicles.

He was later brought to St Vincent’s Hospital but was released yesterday.

7 The Garda's arms and legs were beaten up as he tried to seize a couple’s car

The erratic suspects sped off from the scene before crashing the vehicle into a Dublin City Council dump truck.

They then fled from the car, which cops later seized, and were spotted jumping over gardens in the posh Waterloo Road area of Ballsbridge.

A major manhunt was launched by the Gardai’s Armed Support Unit, with the Garda helicopter also brought in to help.

The idiotic pair were caught in the basement of an expensive house in Waterloo Road after they broke into the property, which was last night being examined by Garda technical experts.

7 An injury caused to Garda Gallagher's leg

The woman and man were last night being quizzed on suspicion of reckless endangerment, burglary and driving offences.

A source said: “The suspects showed no regard for Gda Gallagher’s safety when they took off at speed and did everything they could to evade justice.

7 He was treated at St Vincent's Hospital

“They went through a lot of gardens before managing to force their way into a property and hide in a downstairs room.

“Gardai hunting for them went into every room before they were eventually caught. They were ­initially pulled over for driving offences but are now facing more serious charges.”

7 Joyce ­was previously convicted on three counts of making threats to injure gardai with a blood-filled syringe

Supt Joe Gannon, from Pearse Street Garda Station, confirmed an investigation was under way.

He said: “Thankfully Gda ­Gallagher appears to have avoided a serious injury.

“Nonetheless this type of response by the perpetrators was unexpected and unforeseen and is bound to have a traumatic effect.”

And GRA spokesman Damian McCarthy, who represents the ­Gardai’s South Central Division, told of his shock over the incident.

MOST READ IN NEWS pint me the way List of every pub in Dublin that remains open with outdoor dining area crash arrest Joshua Allen arrested for ‘driving intoxicated’ after crashing new Range Rover 'no other choice' Irish expert warns of Europe-wide lockdown lasting 3 months after Xmas COV-ER & OUT Lockdown-free Sweden 'on brink of BEATING Covid after achieving herd immunity' WAS IT EU? EuroMillions results for Tuesday, September 22's €77m jackpot and Plus draw TRAVEL ALERT New Green List with travel restrictions for Irish arrivals at 5 of 7 locations Exclusive dad's pain Azzam's dad 'can't accept this' after son's killer convicted for manslaughter 'hours to live' 'Miracle' Covid survivor holds back tears describing goodbye call to family posh spread Posh soirees in Foxrock as bad as parties in Oliver Bond flats, says top medic 'TOUGH S**T' Lawyer refuses to scrap 'offensive' LGOPNR number plate.. can you work it out?

He said: “Again this latest incident demonstrates the dangers we as a face on a daily basis.

“We again are lucky no life has been lost in Dublin. The Government will have to act and introduce appropriate legislation that protects front row public servants.

“There is no deterrent for attacks on emergency service workers and all of my colleagues were shocked at yesterday’s incident and wish Garda Gallagher a speedy recovery.”