Rampaging cow wounds garda

A cow mowed down a garda and three innocent by-standards during a daring bid to escape from a Co Clare market yesterday.

The savage beast escaped from a market on the Quin Road, Ennis, Co Clare, and tore of down a busy road, with farmers, vets, members of the public and gardaí in hot pursuit.

Attempts to put the bovine brute down had to be abandoned due to safety reasons. A garda attempted to corral the animal and was knocked to the ground and dragged up the road by the milk-producing monster.

Three members of the public attempted to bring Daisy (its name might not have been Daisy) to heel and they too were knocked to the ground and injured.

The drama continued when the mob managed to herd the cow back to the mart, when it continued to attack its tormentors and resist attempts to bring it under control.

Daisy was finally escorted, kicking and screaming (cows scream sometimes) to a field. There are concerns, however, that it could escape again and cause further carnage around Ennis.

According to reports in the Irish Independent, ISPCA animal welfare officer Frankie Coote refused to rule out the possibility that the cow would need to be exterminated.

Mr Coote, who attended the scene of the massacre, said: "This cow was rogue and was out of control. This was a serious situation and rogue animals like this can be extremely dangerous.”

“Members of the public should never try to approach an agitated animal like this. I was shocked to see the people ignore warnings from the guards to get out of the way.”