A major garda operation was brought to a “safe conclusion” when negotiators successfully brought a man down from a Salthill apartment rooftop following a stand-off lasting just over four hours on Tuesday night.
The man, aged in his early 40s with a County Galway address, was described as being in a traumatised state following the incident and was receiving treatment at time of going to press yesterday.
At 5.30pm on Tuesday the man, dressed all in black and wearing a balaclava, gained access to the rooftop to the Radharc an Chlair building on Grattan Road. It is understood that the highly agitated man had been holding what appeared to be a fuel container and had threatened to set himself alight. Emergency services including fire brigade and ambulance service, were called to the scene where the gardai, including members of the armed response unit, attempted to deal with the incident.
The residents of the apartment building were evacuated and a media blackout was enforced as gardai entered the building to negotiate with the man. A fire brigade cherry-picker was raised to the level of the rooftop balcony with two fire crew members ready to act. As these event unfolded a large number of people gathered watching as the man paced back and forth, smoking cigarettes and drinking what appeared to be cans of beer. He was also heard speaking to the two fire fighters and at around 9pm he insisted they lower the cherry-picker.
A garda negotiator made contact with the man and shortly before 10pm the stand-off came to an end with no injuries. He was led from the building and was taken to Mill Street Garda Station but was not under arrest. Gardai are giving no further details “owing to the nature of the incident”.
