Garda beaten and doused in petrol was previously the victim of another assault while on duty

 1st March 2022

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Detectives are still trying to determine the exact sequence of events that led to a savage assault on an unarmed garda in which petrol was doused over the young officer and he was beaten and threatened with a gun.

However investigators are now confident that he was not bundled into a vehicle before he was attacked.

The Irish Independent can also reveal that the officer, who is understood to be aged in his early 30s, was the victim of a serious unprovoked assault in July 2016, when he required hospital treatment on being attacked after leaving court.

The scene beside Loughan House open prison in Co Cavan remained sealed off yesterday evening and the garda jeep the uniformed officer had been driving remained at the location as forensic experts carried out examinations.

Detectives are working on the theory that a gun was pulled on the officer, who is based at Blacklion garda station, before he was badly beaten.

A motive for the brutal assault has not yet been established and there have been no arrests.

One theory being investigated is that the criminals involved in the attack had doused him in petrol to destroy forensic evidence.

A source said: “They also might have been trying to terrify the garda by doing this and that is just shocking criminal behaviour.

“The psychological impact on the victim in this case cannot be underestimated. He may well have feared being burnt to death.”

Shortly before 2am yesterday, the garda, who was driving on his own, had noticed suspicious activity at Loughan, Blacklion, Co Cavan, and officers are working on the theory that he was then confronted by a number of criminals who have not yet been identified.

The officer, who is from Co Roscommon, has six years of service in An Garda Síochána and is well regarded and well known in GAA circles where he is considered a talented player.

He remained in a concussed state at Sligo University Hospital where he was being treated for a number of injuries.

“This is still a very confused situation and the full facts of what exactly happened need to be figured out,” a senior source said.

A Garda statement said: “An Garda Síochána are currently investigating all the circumstances of an assault on an unarmed uniformed member of An Garda Síochána which took place in the early hours of the 28th February 2022.

“At approximately 2am on the 28th February 2022, a member of An Garda Síochána on patrol in the Loughan, Blacklion, Co Cavan, area contacted colleagues seeking assistance.

“The member was disorientated and unable to explain the exact circumstances of events taking place.

“An Garda Síochána, through the North Western Region Headquarters Control Room, identified the member’s location through the Garda AVPLS system.

“Uniformed colleagues attended the scene supported by Armed Support Units.

“The members found their colleague in a disorientated state.

“His official marked patrol vehicle was present at the scene. There was a strong smell of an accelerant in the air, his Garda uniform was saturated with an accelerant and he had signs of physical injuries.”

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) condemned the incident and said their thoughts are with the garda and his family.