A shot was fired during an attempted robbery in Ratoath, Co Meath, this afternoon.
A cash-in-transit van was about to service an ATM machine at the rear of a premisies at the Corballis shopping centre at around 1.45pm when the raiders struck.
Three men, one of whom was armed with a firearm and another of whom was armed with a hammer, threatened staff members. One shot was discharged before the raiders left the scene.
There were no injuries and no money was taken. The men left in the direction of Ashbourne in a white van. Gardaí have issued the partial registration '00 G' and have said an orange pipe was tied to the top of the van at the time of the raid.
Gardaí in Ashbourne are appealing for witnesses or anyone who may have seen the van described above acting suspiciously in the Ratoath area before the incident or as they left the scene, to contact them in Ashbourne on 01 8010600, the confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.