Tributes have been paid to the bravery of the two gardaí who were shot during an incident in Dublin, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin saying it showed "yet again" the danger gardaí face in their efforts to protect people.
He said: "We should always be very grateful for all the work they do on a daily basis on our behalf."
The two gardaí were shot after they responded to a firearms report at a house at Whitechapel Grove. They were brought to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown.
One of the officers sustained a gunshot wound to the foot and the other was shot in the hand and foot.
A man known to gardaí was arrested and is being detained at Blanchardstown Garda Station.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris commended all gardaí involved in securing a successful outcome to the incident.
"In particular, the bravery of the two detectives who were first on scene. This was another in a long line of examples of gardaí putting themselves on the line to keep people safe.
"I want to wish them a speedy recovery," he said.
Two gardaí in their 30s were wounded after they responded to a report that gunshots had been heard in Blanchardstown in northwest Dublin yesterday evening. A man in his 40s has been arrested | Read more: https://t.co/nH5PzpCmDy pic.twitter.com/nx1DksIV2Z
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) May 26, 2021
Garda Representative Association President Frank Thornton said the incident brings into focus "the very real and ever present danger that every garda is exposed to when performing their duty".
"All members of An Garda Síochána put themselves in harm’s way every day that they go to work in order to protect communities and ensure citizens are kept safe," he said.
He added: "While any incident that results in two members being injured cannot be considered to have been resolved successfully, it is a credit to the collective policing response and the actions of individual members that the incident was brought to a conclusion without further injury or loss of life.
"I also wish to acknowledge the many messages of goodwill and gratitude for both of them which have been received through the association from both colleagues, other police organisations and members of the public."
Minister for Justice Heather Humphreys said the incident in Whitechapel was a very dangerous and very serious incident, and commended those involved for their efforts.
"I think it's important that we remember when gardaí put on the uniforms in the morning, they don't know what to expect during the day, but they're there to protect us as a people, and I just want to thank them for that, and to acknowledge their bravery.
"I'd also like to wish the two gardaí who were injured last night a speedy recovery. And again I want to acknowledge the other first responders that were on the scene as well," she said.
The General Secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors said the incident was "a stark reminder of the dangers of the job".
Antoinette Cunningham said of the two gardaí that "their bravery is to be commended. We think of their families also and all colleagues dealing with the incident".
Speaking during a briefing in Blanchardstown last night, Chief Superintendent Finbarr Murphy thanked those involved on behalf of the community, as well as the organisation, and said it is a "reminder to us how dangerous it is for our gardaí out there everyday when they go to work and the job that they do.
"I want to thank them on behalf of the organisation and the community, for their work and the work they do, and the danger they put themselves in to make our community safe."
