A North Dublin man in his early 20s is ill in hospital after being shot by a garda who interrupted a robbery at a city centre shop yesterday evening.
In a statement last night, the Garda Press Office said two men held up staff at a newsagents in South Leinster Street at 6.39 p.m., threatening staff with a 12-inch long knife. The two had stolen about £100 in cash and cigarettes and, as they were leaving, they were confronted by an armed detective responding to a call about the robbery.
The statement said: "A struggle ensued resulting in shots being discharged by the detective."
A spokesman said two men ran off into the grounds of Trinity College, followed by gardai. One man in his early 20s, from the Sheriff Street area, was arrested and taken to Pearse Street Garda Station. The second man, from the Dorset Street area, was found in the Trinity grounds a short while later suffering from wounds to the chest and arm. He was taken to the accident and emergency unit of the Meath Hospital, where he underwent surgery. At 1 a.m. he was out of the operating theatre and "doing well" in the intensive care unit, said the night sister.
According to Garda sources, the detective was a short distance from the newsagents when he received a call on his radio about the robbery and went to the scene. Several of the Pearse Street detectives carry firearms as they are often involved in security duties at Government Buildings and Dublin Castle.
Under Garda guidelines, officers must give a warning and open fire only in circumstances where they believe there is a threat to life. The last serious shooting incident involving a garda and armed raiders occurred last summer when a member of the surveillance unit confronted members of the republican splinter group, the Irish National Liberation Army, at a warehouse in Inchicore, and shot one robber dead.
Armed confrontations are very rare in the city, particularly as the number of armed robberies has declined in the past two years. Yesterday's incident took place at the end of the rush hour and South Leinster Street was still busy when the shooting took place.
After the incident an investigation was started to ascertain the facts. This is normal procedure in incidents where gardai discharge weapons.
Meanwhile the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, announced that the divisional officer for Dun Laoghaire, Chief Supt Patrick Culhane, would carry out an investigation into the shooting.