Two families of Travellers narrowly escaped injury early yesterday when their mobile homes were blasted with a shotgun.
It happened as the families, which include young children, were asleep in their caravans at the Upper Commons, a park in a quiet residential area in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.
The shots ripped through the top portions of the two caravans showering the sleeping occupants with debris.
The incident happened shortly before 1 a.m. about 200 yards from Castleblayney Garda station.
Gardaí were on the scene within minutes but the attackers had fled.
A council spokesman said yesterday: "Nobody could condone an outrageous or reckless act such as shooting at mobile homes - it was a miracle nobody was killed or injured."
Garda Supt Tom Long of Carrickmacross, who is leading the hunt for the gunmen, said he believed a double-barrelled shotgun was used in the attack.
"We are appealing for any information which will help identify the people responsible for this attack. This was a very irresponsible and criminal act."
The Traveller families were not prepared to talk about their early morning ordeal yesterday.
However, one relative who visited the scene of the shooting said: "They only intended to remain here a few days . . . they are all shocked by what happened and are thankful nobody was shot."