Garda's nose broken in courtroom assault

A GARDA is recovering after sustaining a broken nose in a courtroom assault.

The male officer was headbutted in Ballina courtroom by a man who was handcuffed to him.

The accused in the case was before Judge Mary Devins yesterday (Tuesday) on robbery charges.

When the incident occurred, Judge Devins left the bench but resumed the court session after order had been restored.

The garda victim of the attack was brought to Sligo University Hospital for treatment to his fractured nose but was released later.

The man who headbutted the officer was arrested following a robbery, which involved a weapon, on a discount store in Ballina on Monday evening.

A member of the store staff, assisted by a member of the public, chased and held the suspect until gardaí arrived and took him into custody.

Gardaí objected to an application for bail when the suspect appeared in court yesterday. The suspect was remanded in custody at Cloverhill Prison, where he remains this week.

Superintendent Joe Doherty has publicly thanked the civilians who assisted in the detention of the suspect following Monday's robbery.