A wanted man has been arrested following a dramatic Garda chase in Buncrana last weekend.
A patrol car was rammed by a suspect driver attempting to flee from gardaí on Saturday morning.
The alert was first raised when a member of the public reported a car acting suspiciously in Buncrana. A number of males were on board.
The car was located at Stragill Beach, but Gardaí were forced to give chase when the driver fled the scene and drove towards the public road.
The car was then accelerated towards the garda patrol car and collided with it. The driver persisted in attempting to flee, despite the car being lodged between the patrol car and a ditch.
The driver then fled on foot and took off running through nearby fields.
Gardaí caught the suspect and he was arrested at the scene.
The three passengers were also arrested under the Public Order Act.
Preliminary drugs tests on the driver showed positive results for illegal drugs and alcohol in his system. The man also had a small quantity of illegal drugs in his possession.
The man was charged for a number of offences, including dangerous driving, no insurance, no driving licence, possession of drugs and criminal damage to the patrol car. There also may be further charges pending.
A bench warrant had previously been issued for the arrest of the man involved. He was taken to a special sitting of Buncrana court that evening and remanded in custody for a future court date.
No garda members were badly injured in the incident, it has been confirmed.
Gardaí have issued a thank you to the vigilant member of the public who first reported the suspect car. The person’s report which led to the arrest may have saved lives, according to the authorities.
Speaking in this week’s Community Garda Slot, Garda Grainne Doherty said: “Had the person in this case not called us and had that car been taken back onto the public road God knows how many lives would have been lost.”
Gda Doherty stressed the importance of people calling their local garda station if they see any unusual activity.
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