Latest news with #MarkO'Meara
The Journal
06-05-2025
- The Journal
Man arrested after van driven at garda causing serious injuries in Ardee last week
A MAN HAS been arrested in connection with an investigation into a van being driven at a garda causing serious injuries last week. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning of 2 May in Clonmore Estate in Ardee, Co Louth when gardaí approached a parked van. Advertisement The van is understood to have been driven at the gardaí, injuring one who had exited their patrol vehicle to investigate. He sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was transferred to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. The arrested man, aged in his 40s, is currently detained at a garda station in the Eastern region, gardaí said. Gardaí are continuing to appeal for witnesses to come forward. Mark O'Meara, President of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) described the incident last week as 'extremely serious and concerning'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Daily Mirror
06-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man arrested after van deliberately driven at Garda in horror incident
A man has been arrested after an incident in which a van was deliberately driven at a member of An Garda Síochána. Gardaí confirmed on Tuesday morning that a man in his 40s was arrested on Monday in connection with the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Friday morning (May 2), in Ardee, Co Louth. The horror incident unfolded at around 4.20am on Friday morning while Gardaí were on patrol in the Clonmore Estate area in Ardee. Gardaí in a patrol car approached the van that was parked up in the estate. When a male officer got out of the patrol car to investigate, the van was then deliberately driven at him. He sustained serious but non life-threatening injuries to both his legs. He was due to undergo surgery on Friday at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. It is understood the officer has only been in the force for around five years, according to sources. The arrested man is currently detained at a Garda station in the Eastern region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. Gardaí are continuing to appeal for witnesses to this incident to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in Clonmore Estate area between 4:00am and 4:40am on the 2nd May 2025 are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ardee Garda Station on 041 6871330, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. Speaking in the aftermath of the incident on Friday, Garda Representative Association (GRA) President Mark O'Meara said: 'This is an extremely serious and concerning incident and our thoughts and prayers are with the injured member, his family and colleagues in the Ardee community. 'It is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by frontline Gardaí on a daily basis while on duty and I want to wish our colleague the very best and hope for a full recovery. 'Our Louth divisional representative will be liaising with the member's family and colleagues to monitor his progress.' Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Irish Times
06-05-2025
- Irish Times
Man (40s) arrested after hit and run injuring garda in Louth
A man in his 40s has been arrested after a hit and run incident in Co Louth left a garda in a serious condition in hospital. The incident happened in Ardee when the garda got out of his patrol car to investigate a van which was parked suspiciously at about 4.20am on Friday. The van was driven at gardaí and hit a garda who had exited the patrol car to investigate. He sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was transferred to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. READ MORE [ Garda suffers serious injuries in Co Louth hit and run Opens in new window ] An investigation is ongoing while the injured garda 'is continuing in his recovery for serious injuries with support from Garda welfare services,' a Garda official said. On Monday evening, a man in his 40s was arrested in connection with the Garda investigation and is detained at a Garda station in the eastern region under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. An Garda Síochána renewed its appeal for any witnesses of the incident to come forward. 'Any road users who may have camera footage (including dashcam) and were travelling in Clonmore Estate area between 4am and 4.40am on the May, 2nd 2025 are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí. 'Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ardee Garda station on 041 6871330, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station,' a Garda representative said. The incident was described as 'extremely serious and concerning' by Garda Representative Association president Mark O'Meara. 'It is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by frontline gardaí on a daily basis while on duty and I want to wish our colleague the very best and hope for a full recovery,' he said.
The Irish Sun
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
‘Endless red tape' – Front line Gardai ‘stuck behind desks' instead of on streets as cops call for policing model change
FRONT line gardai say they are being tied up with endless red tape and the policing model is unfit for purpose. Officers claim they spending too many hours stuck behind computer screens instead of on the streets 'where they want to be'. The Garda Representative Association's annual conference kicks off tomorrow in Killarney, GRA president Mark O'Meara said: 'Unfortunately, that is how many of our members feel.' Up for discussion is the Operating The GRA, which represents over 11,000 rank-and-file members, believes the model is also damaging recruitment and retention of staff. READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS Mr O'Meara said: ' He said recruitment numbers have remained static for over a decade while population increased. The association has called for training allowances to be raised and a It comes days after the most read in the irish sun New figures reveal that as of Thursday, April 24, 5,332 people were incarcerated with only 4,666 beds available. This meant 666 inmates were being forced to sleep on mattresses, double up in single cells, causing rising tensions. TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION Almost every prison in the country has been swamped, with 987 in The Irish But staff still had to find places to detain an extra 180 inmates. A Mountjoy source said: 'This place is on tenterhooks at the moment, we have two or three fellas in some cells when we use to only have one. 'There is a lot of tension in the air because of the overcrowding and fellas have no privacy. There is a lot of anger among the prison population and we are doing our best to keep a lid on it. 'Assaults and attacks on staff are up. 'Why in the name of God the State not build another new prison with a rising population is beyond belief.' 1 Mark O'Meara, Vice President of the GRA Credit: Social Media Collect
