A toddler narrowly escaped being hit by a maniac who hijacked a car and ploughed through crowds at a cemetery yesterday.
The incident at St Patrick’s graveyard in Dundalk, Co Louth, left one man in hospital with serious injuries.
Ian Matthews, 29, from the town said: “It was absolutely crazy. It was coming towards the end of the Blessing of the Graves, there was only one decade of the rosary left and we were near where the main stage was.
“A big commotion started happening so we all turned around and looked towards the main stage at which point we saw a car speed by.
“Everyone was screaming to get people, women and children in off the roads. It was crazy, people were jumping on to graves.
“Everyone was at their own family’s graves but the initial collision almost sounded like it was going to be a fight at first but then we noticed smoke which was coming from a car.
“The car then had hit someone because there was gasps and a big panic.
“When it sped off we thought it was leaving for good and people ran over to those injured to try and help but a few seconds later the car returned there again.
“One man close to us grabbed a buggy with a child around three and jumped in on top of a ditch as the car sped past us. It was absolute madness.”
It is understood the hijacker stole a car at the graveyard before racing it into innocent people and damaged a number of other parked vehicles before speeding away.
A short distance away, officers found a topless suspect and held him to the ground before arresting him.
A number of armed gardai swarmed the scene while two more ambulances arrived to treat those who sustained minor injuries.
The force confirmed one man had been taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital by ambulance.
It is understood the victim hit his head off the ground after the car collided with him while he was trying to help others.
A spokesman said: “Gardai and emergency services attended an incident at St Patricks Cemetery, Dowdallshill, Dundalk, Co Louth at approximately 3.40pm yesterday.
“It is understood from initial investigations a dark-coloured car drove at a number of persons in the cemetery. The offending car then drove out of the cemetery on to the public road and collided with a number of parked cars before coming to a stop.
“A man in his late 20s, believed to the driver was arrested at the scene.
“He is currently detained at Dundalk Garda station.”
Ian Matthews, who was praying at his father’s grave with his mother and brother, said people were screaming and running to hide. He added: “When the car came near us it got in a wedge so he had to slow down. We could clearly see him. He was on his own.
“People were running to hide behind headstones. There were elderly people beside me that couldn’t move as quick.
“It was pandemonium. Everyone is in so much shock, my mother was saying she has attended this event since she was a little girl and now she has said that’s the last year she’ll go. We don’t want to attend something where there will be trouble like that.
“The Blessing of Graves is a family event for elderly people and a lot of children were there.
“It’s very sad and scary to see something like this happen.”
Local Sinn Fein councillor Ruairi O Murchu said: “The person driving the vehicle which injured a number of people and damaged numerous cars during this evening’s Blessing of the Graves ceremony must bear full responsibility for their actions.
“People are very angry that anyone would show such disregard for people’s safety.
“It is absolutely appalling and unjustifiable behaviour.
“This ceremony is attended by thousands of people every year, including many children and elderly people, who come to Dowdallshill to remember loved ones. Many more people could have been hurt by the despicable actions of this individual given the volume of people attending the graveyard.”
Another witness, Bernie Mc Adam said: “A terrifying experience.
“We were within feet of this crazed driver as he ploughed through the crowd. An event where thousands of people are congregated and not one garda to be seen in and around the graveyard prior to the incident.”
Siobhan Brannigan added: “It was horrible, especially for the poor kids in the crowd.
“I won’t be going next year that’s for sure, hopefully everyone will be ok.”
