An investigation is underway into a serious assault on a young garda in Dundalk.

At around 5pm yesterday evening, he was slashed in the face with a garden trowel.

The assault happened as gardaí attended to a public order incident at the Bakehouse Apartments.

The injured garda was brought to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

A man in his 50s has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Local Councillor Ruairí Ó Murchú attended the scene shortly after the assault happened.

He explained that locals said gardaí were responding to "some sort of fight" or incident in the area.

Cllr Ó Murchí observed: "[Gardaí] were going about their business when one of them got seriously injured.

"It's not in any way okay.

"It is absolutely frightening - and beyond that unacceptable - that a member of An Garda Síochana would be injured while carrying out their duty."

Main image: File photo of Garda. Picture by: DPPA/SIPA USA/PA Images