A fire engine stolen in Meath left a trail of destruction before being abandoned in Monaghan.
The fire tender was stolen from Nobber fire station in County Meath. The driver first travelled to Castlebellingham in County Louth, where it was used to ram the Garda station and demolish the entire front section of the building. At Carrickmacross in County Monaghan, the next incident occurred when the tender was driven straight at a Garda car as it attempted to intercept the vehicle.
The fire engine was then driven in the direction of Castelblayney where a second Garda car failed to intercept the tender. On Main Street in Castleblayney, the tender ran into a customs car three times and eventually pushed the vehicle, which was not occupied, through the front of a butcher shop.
The tender was found abandoned two miles from Castleblayney in a laneway. Garda forensics are examining the fire engine along with other damaged vehicles and buildings.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 23 March 1985. The reporter is Mary Fanning.
