Latest news with #Kesh


The Independent
23-06-2025
- The Independent
Man arrested after police officer dragged by car in Co Tyrone
A man has been arrested following an incident in Co Tyrone when a police officer was dragged by a car. The officer is described as having sustained multiple fractures to his foot along with cuts and bruises. A police spokesperson said they have arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of a number of driving offences after the officer was dragged by a car during a traffic stop in Omagh on Sunday. Chief Inspector Graham Dodds described a 'very dangerous situation which could have had a much, much more dire outcome'. 'The officer stopped a vehicle on the Beltany Road shortly after 11pm,' he said. 'Believing the driver may be under the influence, they prepared to conduct a preliminary breath test (PBT), however, when informed of this, the driver took off at speed dragging the police officer along with his vehicle for several metres before the officer was able to free himself. 'The driver continued to flee the scene.' He said that both the driver and the vehicle were located in Kesh later where he said the car had run out of fuel. 'The driver was arrested on suspicion of offences including driving with excess alcohol, dangerous driving and assault on police,' he said. 'The officer sustained multiple fractures to his foot along with cuts and bruises and will now be unable to work for several weeks while they heal and recover. 'This was a very dangerous situation which could have had a much, much more dire outcome. Police officers do not go to work expecting to be injured or attacked. No one should.' He also appealed for information, including requesting that a member of the public who stopped at the scene to offer assistance to the injured officer get in touch.


BreakingNews.ie
23-06-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Man arrested after police officer dragged by car in Co Tyrone
A man has been arrested following an incident in Co Tyrone when a police officer was dragged by a car. The officer is described as having sustained multiple fractures to his foot along with cuts and bruises. Advertisement A police spokesperson said they have arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of a number of driving offences after the officer was dragged by a car during a traffic stop in Omagh on Sunday. Chief Inspector Graham Dodds described a 'very dangerous situation which could have had a much, much more dire outcome'. 'The officer stopped a vehicle on the Beltany Road shortly after 11pm,' he said. 'Believing the driver may be under the influence, they prepared to conduct a preliminary breath test (PBT), however, when informed of this, the driver took off at speed dragging the police officer along with his vehicle for several metres before the officer was able to free himself. Advertisement 'The driver continued to flee the scene.' He said that both the driver and the vehicle were located in Kesh later where he said the car had run out of fuel. 'The driver was arrested on suspicion of offences including driving with excess alcohol, dangerous driving and assault on police,' he said. 'The officer sustained multiple fractures to his foot along with cuts and bruises and will now be unable to work for several weeks while they heal and recover. Advertisement 'This was a very dangerous situation which could have had a much, much more dire outcome. Police officers do not go to work expecting to be injured or attacked. No one should.' He also appealed for information, including requesting that a member of the public who stopped at the scene to offer assistance to the injured officer get in touch.


BBC News
23-06-2025
- BBC News
Omagh: Officer injured after being dragged along road
A police officer has been left with multiple fractures after he was dragged along the road by a car driven by a suspected drunk happened shortly after 23:00 BST on Sunday in Beltany Road, officer sustained fractures to his foot, as well as cuts and bruises and is expected to be unable to work for some time, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said.A 24-year-old man arrested on suspicion of a driving offences remains in police custody. "This was a very dangerous situation which could have had a much, much more dire outcome," Ch Insp Graham Dodds senior officer said the driver had been stopped because police believed he may have been under the influence. When told that a preliminary breath test would be carried out, Ch Insp Dodds said the driver "took off at speed dragging the police officer along with his vehicle for several meters before the officer was able to free himself"."Both driver and vehicle were located in Kesh where the car had run out of fuel," he added."The driver was arrested on suspicion of offences including driving with excess alcohol, dangerous driving and assault on police."Police have appealed for anyone information to come forward. They particularly want to hear from the member of the public who stopped to help the officer.


Irish Examiner
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Callum Devine and Noel O'Sullivan win Donegal International Rally for third year in a row
Callum Devine (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) took his third consecutive victory in the Wilton Recycling Donegal International Rally amidst some of the toughest competition the Derry driver has ever faced. He finished 20.5 seconds ahead of the Toyota GR Yaris of Welsh driver Meirion Evans while Donegal driver David Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5) took a late third place following the final stage retirement of the Ford Fiesta Rally2 of Kesh driver Jon Armstrong. The top three of Devine, Evans and Kelly mirrored the same positions of last year's rally. The principal constant through Saturday's eight stages was Devine's possession of a lead margin that fluctuated throughout the day. On the first run through High Glen (SS7) Armstrong set the pace and moved from fifth to second with Devine actually increasing his lead to 17.3s. Evans remained third, just 0.2s behind Armstrong and a similar margin ahead of Creighton. However, Paddon slipped three places to fifth as he struggled with the handling of his Hyundai. On SS8 Lough Keel Creighton was quickest to become Devine's nearest challenger as he cut the deficit to 12.9s. Ironically, the former Junior World Rally champion was unhappy as he didn't get into a satisfactory rhythm. Evans, Armstrong and Paddon followed, the latter reckoning it was difficult to keep the Hyundai on the road. The repeat of both stages had consequences for some of Devine's rivals. Armstrong's Fiesta developed a mechanical issue that manifested itself about a kilometre into the stage that cost him some 20s as he dropped to fifth - 35.7s off the lead. Creighton, with another stage win, cut Devine's lead to 9s. Having raised the car and adjusted the dampers, Paddon was best through SS10 (Lough Keel) and slotted into fourth and was still very much in the hunt - 16.3s off top spot as Creighton took half a second from Devine. The afternoon stages were a double run over the iconic Knockalla and Garrygort. Creighton exceled and with another fastest stage time closed to within 5.7s of Devine, who experienced a problem with the handbrake. Maintaining a fine rhythm, Creighton continued to exert pressure on Devine and by the end of Garrygort, there was just 4.9s between them. For rally leader Devine, it was all about remaining calm and composed, a one-time 17.3s lead had evaporated in the sunshine to those 4.9s and given the handbrake issue, he couldn't afford to take any risks. Creighton's Toyota had some understeer that resulted in a slight altercation with the scenery that only yielded cosmetic damage. Evans, in third, had a slice of luck prior to the start of SS12 when he noticed the power steering pipe rubbing off the engine belt and was able to regularise matters. The day's final stages (repeats of SS11&12) brought double drama. Paddon's rally ended with a soft roll and little damage. There was no change at the top as Creighton and those that stopped at Paddon's accident were all given Devine's time for the stage. Creighton's bid for victory ended on the day's final stage when he punctured that saw him slide off the road - losing in excess of seven minutes. Overnight, he was classified 16th but opted not to compete on Sunday. Devine was back in something of a comfort zone overnight - leading Evans by 21.8s with Donegal's David Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5) 40.7s further adrift in what was a repeat of last year's final top three. Tyre choice was a lottery for Sunday's opening loop of three stages that saw Devine stretch his advantage over Evans to 30.1s as Armstrong was best on Atlantic Drive to leapfrog Kelly and slot into third over the wet roads. On a bone dry Fanad Head, Evans set the pace and pared the deficit back to 22.6s. Elsewhere, Kelly, Moffett and Michael Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) completed the top six, the latter taking advantage after his father Declan, in a similar car, who lost time with a front right wheel puncture. On the closing loop Devine secured his third consecutive victory in Donegal. "I was quite happy with my pace all weekend. I didn't have any moments." Given the calibre of the opposition, he concluded: "It just shows you the (pace) Irish Tarmac Rally Championship is pretty fast." Wilton Recycling Donegal International Rally (Round 4, NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship) Letterkenny 1. C. Devine/N. O'Sullivan (Skoda Fabia RS Rally) 2h. 23m. 30.2s 2. M. Evans/G. Conway (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+20.5s 3. D. Kelly/A. Kierans (VW Polo R5)+1m. 02.4s 4. J. Moffett/A. Hayes (Hyundai i20 R5)+1m. 48.2s 5. M. Boyle/D. McCafferty (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+3m. 18.0s 6. D. Boyle/P. Walsh (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+4m. 03.3s 7. K. Eves/C. Melly (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+4m. 39.4s 8. J. Ford/N. Shanks (Citroen C3 Rally2)+5m. 27.4s 9. R. Loughran/D. McGettigan (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+6m. 28.4s 10. M. Boyle/G. Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+8m. 03.6s.


Irish Examiner
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Motorsport: Paddon targets Donegal success on first competitive Irish outing
Reigning and double European Rally Champion, New Zealander Hayden Paddon (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) gets his first competitive taste of Irish rallying shortly after eleven o'clock on Friday on the 14.3km Malin Head stage, the first of the weekend's twenty stages of the Wilton Recycling Donegal International Rally. Although the three-day Letterkenny-based event is the fourth round of the NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, the fact that both Keith Cronin and Matt Edwards, have for different reasons, paused their rallying, some of the usual shine has been taken from the series. However, the presence of Paddon along with Kesh driver Jon Armstrong and Moira's William Creighton has cranked up the competition level in the north-west. Paddon has faced both and indeed top seed Callum Devine in last year's Rali Ceredigion in Wales, where the New Zealander took a comfortable victory. However, Donegal will be very different as Paddon told the Irish Examiner yesterday morning. "We (with his Cork born co-driver David Moynihan) have just completed all our recce (reconnaissance), the stages are very fast and technical at the same time. It's going to be very difficult to be at the same speed as the locals when you don't have the knowledge of the roads. We're going to do the best job we can but its difficult when you don't have the experience. Ceredigion was even, we had the same amount of experience but coming here is different as they (local drivers) know the roads so well and we have respect for that. "First and foremost we've come here to enjoy ourselves. The second pass through the stages will be quicker, but until you actually drive them for the first time and have a feel of all the bumps and how the car reacts you don't know. For sure on the second pass you would be more confident." He concluded: "It's a big challenge for us both, obviously Dave (co-driver) has got to learn my pacenote system and for me it's a different voice that you hear in the intercom and how I interpret the words. A challenge is good, it makes it more exciting." Paddon will try and add his name to other luminaries that have triumphed in Donegal like Achim Armbold (1975), Ari Vatanen (1978) and Sebastien Loeb (2007) all of whom have added to the event's legendary status. Top seed Devine will be followed off the start line by Jon Armstrong - fresh from a fine third place on last weekend's Rally Poland and without the shackles of a championship bid, he's unlikely to hold back. In any case, such is the pace, there's no time to adopt a wait and see process when seconds or even parts of, are crucial. Creighton missed the last round of the BRC but arrives in Donegal as leader of the BRC courtesy of his victory in the East Riding Stages and second on the Carlisle Stages. At the wheel of the MEM Castrol-backed Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, he is fulfilling a personal desire. "Donegal is a rally that I've always wanted to contest in a Rally2 car. It's such a special event for Irish rallying and the atmosphere is second to none. The pace at the front of the ITRC is very strong. There's no room for error. It's important to find a good rhythm from the beginning of the rally. But that's what makes it such a brilliant challenge." Others in the top ten are Monaghan's Josh Moffett (Citroen C3 Rally2) and Welsh ace Meirion Evans in the second of the MEM Castrol Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 cars, who will be aiming to go one better than last year when he finished 17.4s behind Devine. "I'm happy with where I am with the Yaris Rally2 at the moment and I hope I can translate that into a really strong performance again. Our speed on the Rally of the Lakes in Killarney was really good and we managed to move our pace forward a bit more on the Jim Clark Rally. It would be great to go one better this time." Today's first leg is a loop of three stages repeated twice with servicing in Carndonagh.