Stolen Cootehill car used to ram PSNI

The silver Ford Fiesta had been shortly after 10pm (Tuesday, December 16) from Market Street in Cootehill

A car stolen from Cavan last night was used to ram a PSNI patrol vehicle across the border, injuring the officer inside.

Two suspects have been arrested, but two more who ran from the damaged stolen car are still being sought following the dramatic early hours incident.

One of the two people arrested is understood to be a male from the Cavan Town area. He is known to gardaí and has previously spent time in prison in connection with a violent crime.

The ramming incident occurred on the Cornagrade Road in Enniskillen shortly before 1am, Wednesday, December 17.

The silver Ford Fiesta had been stolen hours earlier, shortly after 10pm (Tuesday, December 16) from Market Street in Cootehill.

PSNI officers attempted to intercept the vehicle as part of Operation Season’s Greetings, but the situation quickly escalated after being signalled to stop.

The driver of the Ford sped off, mounting a grass verge in a desperate bid to escape. When the getaway attempt failed, the driver reversed course and rammed the pursuing police vehicle.

An officer inside the patrol car suffered neck and back injuries in the impact but remained on duty.

A statement from the PSNI confirmed that two of the occupants of the car, a man and a woman, ran from the vehicle. However another man, 22, and a 25 year old woman were arrested at the scene.

“Checks with colleagues in An Garda Síochána revealed the Fiesta had been stolen in County Cavan earlier the previous evening,” say the PSNI, who add that the pair who ran from the stolen car are still being sought by police.

“The male is described as in his 20s, approximately 6' tall and wearing dark clothing with what is believed to either be a white hood or a white marking on the hood. The female suspect also appeared to be in her 20s with blonde hair and was wearing a black coat and blue jeans.”

Fermanagh and Omagh District Commander Pete Cunningham reacted to the incident.

“The deliberate ramming of police vehicles constitutes a serious and continuing threat to our frontline operational capability and to the safety and well-being of our officers.”

He added: “There must be a lot more awareness of, and praise for, the invaluable and often dangerous work local police officers are doing in communities, and zero tolerance for those who use vehicles to attack them for simply doing their job and keeping people safe."

Police are appealing for anyone with information or who may have captured any dashcam, doorbell or any other footage in the Cornagrade Road area to please get in touch by calling 101, or via our website at  http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/

Or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.

A spokesperson for An Garda Siochána informed this newspaper that Gardaí received a report of the unauthorised taking of a car at Market Street, Cootehill, Co Cavan, at around 10:20pm on December 16.

“Investigations are ongoing,” said the spokesperson.

It is the second time in almost as many weeks that a vehicle has been stolen in the sought and driven across the border into the North.

A digger was taken from the O'Reilly Precast manufacturing site at the end of last month and Members of the PSNI then intercepted the suspected driver after the vehicle crashed on the Belturbet Road as it travelled in the direction of Derrylin.

It resulted in the man, aged 39-year-old, receiving a conviction at Enniskillen Magistrates’ Court.

Several cranes were required to retrieve the crashed digger from the ditch.