Crowds watch on as garda negotiators coax suspect from tree in Limerick
Stand-off takes place in St Mary’s Park area of Limerick city
A MAN had to be talked down from a tree in a city housing estate by garda negotiators, Limerick Live has learned.
The stand-off, which is understood to have lasted around two hours, occurred in the St Mary’s Park area on Friday evening.
It is thought that gardai were conducting an arrest operation at a house at the time. It is believed that the operation was part of ongoing investigations into a series of theft incidents.
As gardai conducted their enquiries, a suspect, a man aged in his 30, fled on foot and climbed a tree in an attempt to evade arrest. Due to safety concerns, An Garda Síochána activated its Hostage Barricade Suicide protocol.
Local garda negotiators, along with several other units, attended the scene and established a cordon.
Footage of the unusual incident, which has appeared on social media, shows at least four marked patrol cars and numerous gardai. One is seen standing on a wall. Limerick Fire and Rescue Service also responded. Many locals gathered to watch the proceedings as they unfolded.
Gardaí successfully negotiated with the man, who was brought to safety and subsequently arrested. He was taken to a garda station in Limerick and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
The man was later charged and brought before a special sitting of the district court in Nenagh on Saturday.
Investigations are ongoing.