Brand new patrol car gets baptism of fire

A SPANKING new garda patrol car was set ablaze as officers responded to an incident in Knockmore at the weekend.

It's believed that petrol was sprinkled on the Hyundai i40, which is 2015 registered, and it was set alight after a garda callout to a house in the Knockmore area, near Ballina, on Saturday night.

Officers locked the patrol car – which cost over €25,000 new - prior to calling to a house in the locality following a callout.

When they returned the patrol car was badly ablaze. Officers managed to get a fire extinguisher from the boot and tackled the flames. They were helped by a local householder who brought containers of water.

The badly damaged vehicle was later towed from the scene. It is believed to be a write-off.

Gardaí later arrested a man in connection with the blaze under the Criminal Justice Act. He was subsequently released. A file is to be prepared for the DPP.