Man arrested after exchange of gunfire with gardai in Sligo

Armed stand-off ends peacefully after man barricaded in house surrenders

Gardai at the scene of the incident on the Sligo to Strandhill Road in Sligo this morning. Photograph: James Connolly
Gardai at the scene of the incident on the Sligo to Strandhill Road in Sligo this morning. Photograph: James Connolly

A man has been arrested after a 12-hour stand-off in Sligo during which he exchanged gunfire with gardai.

The incident started just after midnight after gardaí received a call regarding suspicious activity at a house just over 2kms outside Sligo town on the Strandhill Road.

When they arrived at the house a man in his thirties fired one shot from a shotgun at the officers who retreated to their patrol car and requested assistance from armed units.

When armed officers arrived, the man fire further shots and gardai returned fire.

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The man then reportedly barricaded himself into the house. Gardai set up a cordon and officers from the Emergency Response Unit and trained hostage negotiators were called to the scene.

A number of houses adjacent to the house were evacuated and the main Sligo to Strandhill Road was closed.

The area remains sealed off to facilitate a technical and ballistic examination.

The stand-off ended at 1.30pm when the man left the house and was arrested.

He has been brought to Sligo Garda station for questioning. No one was injured in the incident.