Gardaí and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission were last night conducting separate investigations after a man shot himself in the head following a stand-off with armed gardaí in Ahullen, Ballyfad, Co Wexford.
The incident took place outside the man's home at around 3.30pm, more than three hours after he had become agitated with a local auctioneer following the recent sale of some of his land.
The injured man was rushed Beaumont Hospital in Dublin where he remained in a critical condition last night.
The man's wife and some of his young family were in the house when the shots took place.
Gardaí outside the property are believed to have witnessed the man shooting himself in the head with the shotgun.
The scene of the shooting remained sealed off last night and the road outside remained impassable.
Garda forensics experts and those from the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) could be seen working at the house late last night. Uniform gardaí were on duty to turn around any traffic travelling along the rural laneway.
The house where the shooting took place was barely visible from the Garda cordon.
There were a number of cars parked outside with no neighbouring dwellings in the immediate vicinity.
The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission released a statement on the incident. It read: "The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has commenced an investigation into an incident which occurred near Gorey, Co Wexford earlier today.
"The incident was referred to GSOC by An Garda Síochána under Section 102 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005."
"Earlier today gardaí called to a scene in response to reports of a disturbance which included the use of a firearm.
"While gardaí were investigating this initial incident a member of the public discharged a firearm causing injury to himself. A GSOC investigative team has taken control of the scene."
The incident began yesterday just after noon when an auctioneer based in Wexford town called to see the man at his home in Ahullen, Ballyfad, near Pallas in Co Wexford. The auctioneer went in to the house and spoke with the man about the recent land deal.
The man became agitated with the auctioneer and a row ensued. The man fired at least one shot in the air over the head of the auctioneer. The auctioneer fled the house and immediately rang gardaí to report the shooting.
Local uniform, unarmed, gardaí were first on the scene. They surrounded the house for period before armed members were called in.
Gardaí also called in trained negotiators and it is understood a direct line of communication was opened with the man inside the house.
However, according to Garda sources efforts to calm him failed. He walked out of his home at around 3.30pm and pointed his shotgun at his head, discharging it.
While he suffered serious head wounds he survived and was fighting for his life last night.
Immediately after the shooting an ambulance was called and gardaí sealed off the area for a forensic examination.
