GARDAÍ IN Co Cavan have launched a murder investigation into a fatal shooting of a man in the Border town of Belturbet early yesterday morning.
The victim, who was named locally as Darren McGrath (31), originally from the Mahon area of Co Cork, was shot dead as he lay in bed by a lone gunman at about 5am at a house in the Kilconny Estate in the town.
Gardaí said Mr McGrath's partner was in the room at the time of the shooting and that the couple's 13-month-old baby was sleeping in another bedroom.
Neither was physically harmed in the attack.
A large section of the Kilconny Estate was sealed off yesterday as local gardaí assisted by members of the Garda Forensic Unit began an investigation into the incident.
Mr McGrath's body was removed from the murder scene to Cavan General Hospital for further tests after a preliminary post-mortem examination was conducted by the Deputy State Pathologist, Michael Curtis.
Garda Supt Majella Ryan, who is leading the investigation, said gardaí are seeking a second man who was seen leaving the house after the shooting.
"At this time a full murder investigation is ongoing. We are appealing to any motorist or anybody who might have been near the scene here in Kilconny and who might have seen anything of a suspicious nature between 4.30am and 5.15am to come forward.
"We know that there was a waiting car and that the wheels screeched as the car sped off," Supt Ryan said.
Supt Ryan could not confirm if a motive for the man's death had become apparent.
"We are at a very early stage of the investigation and I would prefer not to comment on that at this point," he said.
Residents in the Border town expressed shock and disbelief at the killing. Sinead Donohoe, chairwoman of Belturbet Town Council, said the usually quiet town was numb with shock.
"People can't speak. We would never in a million years dream anything like this could happen. The streets are dead, people can't talk, they don't know how to talk.
"There's a little girl growing up without her dad now, for the rest of her life. It's dreadful," she said.
Local councillor and former-mayor of Belturbet, Anthony Vesey, offered his sympathy to Mr McGrath's family.
"Personally, I would have met him once or twice on the street and about the town. I would have known him through mutual friends. He was a nicely-spoken, friendly man," he said.
A resident of the Kilconny Estate said: "My husband woke up. He says he heard two loud bangs. I'm absolutely stunned. I can't believe it. This shouldn't be happening, not in Belturbet anyway."