A Wexford man was recovering in hospital yesterday after being shot in both knees by masked raiders who broke into his home on Wednesday night.
The attack, which gardai described as "unprecedented" in the area, took place in front of the man's wife and 14-year-old twins.
The victim was named locally as Mr Patrick Moorehouse of Ferndale Park. Gardai said they did not know what the motive was and could not confirm local suggestions that the attack was a case of mistaken identity. It is understood Mr Moorehouse had never come to the attention of the Garda.
He was watching television in his sitting room with his family when his two attackers, bearing handguns and wearing balaclavas, entered the house shortly before 10 p.m. He was ordered into the dining room, where he was put up against a wall and shot in each knee. The men left the house by the front door but it had not been established yesterday how they made their getaway.
Responding in the Dail to the attack, the Minister of State, Ms Mary Hanafin, said the Government would "not tolerate any attempt to subvert the law and order system" or to undermine the work of the gardai.
She was addressing the Dail on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue.
An incident room has been set up at Wexford Garda station and house-to-house inquiries were being conducted in the area. Ferndale Park is one of Wexford's biggest corporation estates. The scene was preserved for examination by members of the Garda technical bureau.
A garda involved in the investigation said it was too early to say if the attack was the work of a local criminal gang or if there was paramilitary involvement. There had never been an incident of that nature in the area before. Another Garda source said while nothing was being ruled out, it was believed paramilitary involvement was unlikely.
Mr Moorehouse was taken to Wexford General Hospital but later transferred to Waterford Regional Hospital, where he underwent surgery yesterday. A hospital spokeswoman described his condition as stable.
Gardai have appealed for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area or has any information to contact the incident room at Wexford station, tel 053-22333.