Female garda spat at, bitten & punched in face at Dublin house as thug arrested over ‘vicious & cowardly’ assault

A FEMALE Garda was spat at, bitten and punched during a vicious assault in the early hours of yesterday morning. 

A thug also attempted to strangle her by forcing his forearm around her neck at a property in west Dublin. 

The Garda’s male colleague was injured during the incident too. 

The suspect remains in custody this morning after being arrested at the scene in Finglas. 

The female Garda has 18 months experience while the male cop is only in the job for a short period. 

The pair were called to a house and were targeted by a man after arriving there in the early hours of Sunday morning. 

The female Garda was punched in the face and spat at. 

As well as trying to strangle her, the attacker pulled her finger back in an effort to break it. 

He then bit her forearm drawing blood after he was restrained.

Detective Garda Mark Ferris, who is the Garda Representative Association’s Dublin west rep, branded the assault as “vicious and cowardly”, adding that such violent attacks on frontline Gardai are happening far too often.

He told the Irish Sun: “It should be condemned by all right‑thinking people.” 

He added: “Both are feeling the very real physical and psychological effects of this attack. 

“They have asked me to publicly thank the members who came to their assistance.”

Det Gda Ferris said that his colleagues and those he represents know the risks when going out on duty. 

However he told us: “These risks seem to be increasing by the day. 

“There is a growing sense that such attacks are being normalised, and that is draining the morale on the frontline. 

“An assault on a Garda is an assault on the State, and the State’s response must reflect that reality with appropriate resourcing, training and a criminal justice response reflective of the impacts. 

“This should be the minimum supports for those who are sent out to keep communities and the people within them safe.”

It’s understood both Gardai required hospital treatment following the incident. 

The Garda Press Office was contacted for comment on Sunday afternoon.