Gardaí injured in ramming by NI registered car

Two gardaí (Irish police) have been taken to hospital after their patrol car was rammed by a vehicle with a Northern Ireland registration.

It happened on the R184, Tullycorbett, in County Monaghan shortly after 13:00 local time on Thursday.

A man, aged in his 20s, believed to be the passenger of the vehicle and involved in an earlier assault, has been arrested.

A search for the driver had begun but has since been stood down with gardaí saying they are following a "definite line of enquiry".

Shortly after 11:30 local time plain clothed gardaí on patrol in County Monaghan stopped and spoke with a man aged in his 20s.

During the course of the interaction, the man became violent, and assaulted one of the officers.

The man fled into nearby fields and despite an ongoing search, was not located.

Shortly after 13:00, a garda vehicle on patrol on the R184 was rammed by a Northern Ireland registered dark grey Audi car.

The two occupants of the car fled the scene and a search of the local area was commenced and the passenger was arrested.

Gardaí are searching for the driver of the car.

He is described as being aged in his 20s, of medium height and build and wearing a dark grey tracksuit top and grey tracksuit bottoms.

Both gardaí in the patrol car, a man and a woman, have been taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda for assessment of injuries.

A search of the area is ongoing involving regional armed support units and garda air support unit.

Gardaí have asked anyone with information to get in touch.