Man in stable condition after being shot in the face by garda

A man is in a stable condition in hospital after he was shot in the face by a garda in Co Limerick on Wednesday.

The man, a Lithuanian national in his 30s, has suspected links to an Eastern European criminal gang which has been under Garda surveillance since the start of the year.

It is understood the gang is suspected of carrying out a number of burglaries in the Munster region, particularly at pharmacies.

The shooting incident occurred at 2.30am on Wednesday between Ardagh and Shanagolden in Co Limerick when gardaí intercepted a Toyota Avensis at a checkpoint.

It is unclear whether or not the car had stopped at the checkpoint when the shot was fired.

It is believed the gun may have been discharged accidentally by a garda.

The victim was shot in the face and members of the armed support unit worked on him until emergency services arrived at the scene. He was taken to University Hospital Limerick and his condition is now stable.

The operation involved gardaí from the Newcastle West district backed up by other Limerick districts and the Regional Support Unit.

Another man also from Lithuania was arrested at the scene remains in custody and was questioned at Henry Street Garda station under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act.

The Toyota was removed from the scene for a technical examination.

Two separate investigations are underway, one by gardaí in Limerick and the second by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. They have been deployed to the scene as a garda was involved in the incident.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, GSOC confirmed investigators have been deployed to the scene and an investigation is ongoing.

The incident was referred by the Garda Síochána to GSOC under section 102 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which provides for independent investigation of “any matter that appears to indicate that the conduct of a member of the Garda Síochána may have resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person”, the statement said.