Four boys and a young man, ranging in age from mid-teens to 19, have been arrested after a stolen car struck a garda car in Co Cork in the early hours of this morning.
Shortly after 2.30am, gardaí on patrol in Belgooly tried to stop the car with multiple occupants as it left a residential estate.
The car did not stop and struck the garda patrol car as it fled the scene.
The car was brought to a stop near Ballinhassig village shortly before 3am after a stinger device was placed across the road.
The recovered vehicle was seized for technical examination
It came after a coordinated response involving the Armed Support Unit and local garda units.
No injuries were reported.
The car had been stolen earlier in the night during a burglary at a home in the Rochestown area of Cork city.
Two 14-year-old boys, a 17-year-old boy and the 19-year-old are being held in garda stations in Co Cork.
The recovered vehicle, a BMW X5, was seized for technical examination.