Two Gardai were injured, six people were arrested, and a car was left damaged after officers attempted to break up a gang of youths in North Dublin.
Gardai responded to calls after a "large group of apparent youths" were spotted loitering in the Parochial Avenue area of Baldoyle on Tuesday night in spite of ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.
Five members of the gang were arrested for public order offences, while a sixth male youth was arrested after causing damage to a parked car in the area.
Two Gardai, a male officer and a female officer, received minor injuries as they brought the crowd under control, but thankfully both did not require hospitalisation.
Gardai told Dublin Live: "Gardaí responded to reports of a large group of apparent youths congregated in the Parochial Avenue area of Baldoyle on 16/03/2021 at approximately 7pm.
"Gardaí attended the scene an attempted to engage with the group. Gardaí implemented the 4Es approach – engaging, explaining, and encouraging with enforcement a last resort.
"The group failed to comply with direction from Gardaí. Five persons (four males and one female), aged from 17 - 20 years, were arrested for breaches of the Public Order Act. They were detained at Clontarf and Raheny Garda Stations.
"Two of the males, both aged 18 years, have been charged in relation to this incident. They are due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice in April 2021. The other three persons are to be dealt with by way of Adult Caution and the Juvenile Diversion Programme.
"Another male, aged 17 years, was observed causing minor damage to a parked car and was arrested for criminal damage. He was arrested and taken to Raheny Garda Station. He has since been released and is to be dealt with by way of the Juvenile Diversion Programme."
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