by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent
GARDAI are appealing for witnesses after one their
patrol cars was rammed by a large tractor in
Burnfoot in the early hours of Sunday morning. No
one was injured in the incident, which took place at
around 1.30am, however the patrol car was damaged to
the extent that it could not be used to pursue the
tractor, which drove off in the direction of
Bridgend before coming to a stop a short way down
the road when its trailer overturned. The driver did
not remain at the scene.
Speaking to the Inishowen Independent, Sergeant
Danny Devlin said a member of the public had spotted
the tractor being driven in a suspicious manner and
alerted Gardaí.
“The tractor was using the back roads in the area
and came out onto the main road at the bottom of the
Brae Road where it was spotted by a garda patrol.
The tractor failed to stop when the blue light of
the patrol car was turned on. The patrol car then
pulled in front of the tractor on the Bridgend side
of Burnfoot Garda station and tried to block the
tractors path, but the driver of the tractor rammed
the patrol car and made off towards Bridgend.
“Luckily, no one in the patrol car was hurt, but
there could have been serious injury. The car was
badly damaged and could not pursue. I’m no insurance
assessor but I’d say the patrol car is a write off,”
said the Buncrana based Sergeant, who added he’d
subsequently been informed the tractor had been
reported stolen in Derry.
“The driver lost control before reaching Bridgend.
The trailer appeared to clip the verge and tip over
and the driver fled the scene,” said Sergeant
Devlin, who added that the tractor was missing its
registration plates. The trailer, described as a
feeder type by Sergeant Devlin, was empty.
The Buncrana-based Sergeant appealed for members of
the public to come forward with any information
regarding Sunday’s incident.
Break-ins
Meanwhile, two break-ins occurred in the
Burt/Bridgend area last week. In the early hours of
Thursday morning there was a break in at a house in
Carrownamaddy. A sum of cash and a laptop computer
was taken following forced entry to the house via
the side door. Late on Friday night a break in was
reported at a house in Bridgend. No items were
taken.
Gardai are calling on the public to come forward
with any information they may have on the above
break ins. |
