Some 285 gardaí were assaulted on duty last year, according to new figures released to Newstalk.

The Freedom of Information figures highlight a 17% increase in assaults on Gardaí since 2021, when 243 were injured.

Last year’s injuries included 23 bone fractures or dislocations and 17 open wounds.

Bruises, grazes or bites accounted for 102 of the injuries.

Meanwhile, one garda received multiple serious injuries.

"Massive issue"

Garda Representative Association (GRA) spokesman Garda Damien McCarthy told Newstalk the problem is getting worse.

“It is a massive issue because we’ve seen in the recent past that there has been a massive societal change in terms of the levels of violence that Gardaí are experiencing on the street,” he said.

“The latest figures that have been published in relation to Gardaí being injured on duty make for very difficult reading.

“I think it is a significant problem that has to be addressed.”

Prosecutions

He said people who assault officers while on duty should face far tougher sentences.

“We need action in terms of new legislation to ensure that there are adequate pieces of legislation to protect frontline public service workers,” he said.

“I think the legislation should act as a deterrent. It is not working at the moment and stronger measures are needed in legislation to ensure that those who attack frontline service workers are prosecuted.”

Mr McCarthy said the assaults have become a serious problem and action is needed to ensure the situation doesn’t “spiral out of control”.

Some 52 of last year's assaults were in Dublin, while Cork and the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford division both saw 25 each.