Man to appear in court following drug seizure and attempt to evade gardaí on foot

A MAN is due to appear in court following a drug seizure in Limerick city.

The man, aged in his 40s, was arrested for attempting to evade gardaí and later found in possession of €2,000 worth of cannabis in the Hyde Road area on Monday, March 3, has since been charged.

He is due to appear at Limerick District Court this morning, Wednesday, March 5, at 10:30am.

While on patrol in the Hyde Road area  at approximately 9pm on Monday, March 3, gardaí attached to the Limerick Divisional Armed Support Unit stopped a suspicious vehicle.

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The driver, a man in his 40s, attempted to evade gardaí at the scene and fled by foot in possession of what was suspected by gardaí to be a large quantity of drugs.

He was located at a nearby property where he had attempted to dispose of the drugs. The man was subsequently arrested following the discovery of approximately €2,000 worth of cannabis herb in the garden of the property.

"The drugs are now subject to analysis," An Garda Síochána have confirmed.

Meanwhile, gardaí had entered the property with the owner's permission and while in the garden searching for the discharged drugs and were cornered by a dog of a restricted breed.

Due to the aggressiveness of the dog, a member of the Garda Armed Support Unit discharged a firearm in self-defence.

The dog was later taken into custody by the local Dog Warden with the assistance of the Garda Armed Support Unit for safety.

A referral has been made to the An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC).