THE Garda Ombudsman is to investigate the circumstances surrounding a serious road traffic collision in Muff on Sunday.
Five vehicles, including two Garda cars, and a building were damaged when a car, which was being pursued by Gardaí, crashed to a halt.
The car crashed around 2.40pm at a Garda checkpoint which was set up at Main Street, Muff.
Several reports were made to Gardaí about a black Vauxhall Omega driving dangerously in north Inishowen.
Gardaí encountered the vehicle on the Carndonagh-Quigley’s Point road. The driver failed to stop and continued driving in a dangerous manner before colliding with the vehicles in Muff village.
A man, 27-year-old Michael Ward from Drumleck, Shantallow, Derry, has been charged in relation to the incident. At Buncrana District Court on Tuesday, Ward – who is in custody at Castlerea Prison – was refused bail and remanded to appear before Buncrana District Court on May 10.
The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has been notified and has begun an investigation into the crash.
A spokesperson for the Garda Press Office confirmed to Donegal Daily: “Certain aspects of this investigation have been referred to GSOC.”
GSOC was set up to replace the Garda Síochána Complaints Board in 2007.
Garda apprehend suspects after a car chase through North Donegal.
GSOC’s primary responsibility is to deal with complaints made by members of the public concerning the conduct of members of the Garda Síochána.
Muff-based Sinn Féin Councillor Terry Crossan was critical of the strategy deployed by Gardaí.
He said: “I have to question the rationale of an Gardaí in locating the stop operation in the centre of Muff village.
“One car containing a family with three children and another containing a single driver were stopped in the village.
“Eventually the roll out of the situation involved the two cars being rammed at high speed.
“Luckily no major physical injuries occurred, but seriously questions must be asked as to why these two cars were instructed to remain as potential human barriers to stop the vehicle.”
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