A postmaster is in hospital today with gunshot wounds after armed raiders struck in one of two incidents in the midlands this morning.
The incidents took place in Kilcullen, Co Kildare and Portarlington, Co Laois, both at 10 a.m.
In Kilcullen, the postmaster was injured when he was shot by one of two men attempting to rob the local post office. He was taken to Tallaght Hospital where he is being treated for pellet wounds.
The Garda say the raiders fled the scene on a motor-cycle in the direction of Athy. Nothing was taken.
At around the same time, two men armed with hammers made off with cash, travellers cheques and foreign currency in a bank robbery in Portarlington.
They are to thought to be in their early 20s but their means of escape has not yet been established.