Four gardai had to get tetanus jabs after they were bitten, punched and kicked by a violent savage.
The 33-year-old man lashed out at the officers when they were called to a house in Waterford city in the early hours of this morning.
A source told the Irish Mirror: “When gardai called to a disturbance, a man became violent and lashed out.
“He managed to physically assault all four gardai, three males and one female, who were taken to the hospital for their injuries.
“He threatened the guards while throwing punches and kicking them.”
It is understood gardai were bitten in the arms while trying to arrest the local Waterford man at 6.30am.
Another source said the four gardai were treated for their injuries and received tetanus jabs at Waterford University Hospital before being discharged.
Gardai confirmed a man in his 30s was arrested and taken to Waterford Garda station.
Reacting to the attack, a spokesman for the Garda Representative Association (GRA) in Waterford repeated calls to arm members of the force with tasers.
Ronan Slevin told the Irish Mirror: “We’re pleased these gardai avoided more serious injury because this is yet another example of the growing level of violence in society and the growing level of assaults faced by our members.
“We have seen broken bones, lacerations and recently gardai were fired upon in north Dublin.
“Policing is becoming more and more risky and yet we are still putting gardai out to work without the equipment to protect themselves properly.
“I imagine if the officers here in Waterford were armed with Tasers, as we have been calling for, the mere threat of using them would have been a deterrent.
“And perhaps then no one would have been hurt.”
Recent figures from the GRA show that 89 assaults on gardai have been recorded since July this year, while there were a total of 151 assaults on gardai in 2018.
Three gardai required between three and six months off work due to an injury, while 30 officers had to take up to three days off after they were attacked.
Assaults included bruising, biting, four members dislocated bones, while 21 reported sprains.
