COPS OUT FOR 75,000 DAYS DUE TO INJURY

Manpower hours lost after officers hurt in line of duty

- KEN FOXE

GARDAI missed more than 75,000 days of duty last year after they were injured in the line of duty, figures have revealed.

There were 20,807 days of absence caused by a malicious injury with a further 20 days lost where a garda was attacked off duty.

More than 40,000 days were lost to an accidental injury that happened during work while 6,822 days were taken following a traffic accident while working.

Figures released under FOI show more than 235,000 days were lost to illness last year, the equivalent of 645 officers off sick on any given day.