A Garda has been left with serious injuries after a motorcycle crash in Co Cork on Thursday morning.
The on-duty Garda crashed his official motorcycle on the Cork to Limerick road.
Garda Headquarters said it was aware of the incident and was gathering the full facts of the case.
The injured garda was taken by ambulance from the scene, which was on the stretch of the N20 between Blarney and Rathduff.
It is understood the garda is seriously injured and has undergone surgery at Cork University Hospital (CUH).
The N20 Mallow-Cork road is closed northbound between Rathduff and Ivy Bridge to facilitate an investigation.
The southbound lane was reduced to one lane and traffic was being diverted off the main road along a 6km stretch of back roads from Rathduff.
The stretch of road where the incident occurred remained sealed off and the crashed motorcycle was still at the scene covered by protective sheeting.