Three held over Longford incident

A man who was hospitalised after being shot in an incident in Co Longford early this morning has been arrested.

A man who was hospitalised after being shot in an incident in Co Longford early this morning has been arrested.

Gardaí said the man, who is in his 20s, was injured when a business owner came across him and two other males near his property at Kilmoyle, a rural area between Longford town and Edgeworthstown, at about 6.30am.

The owner of the business, a furniture store, discharged a shot from a firearm and wounded the man in the process.

He was taken to Mullingar Regional Hospital for treatment and was arrested on his release this afternoon. He is being held at Roscommon Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

A second man fled the property on foot and was arrested a short distance away following a search by gardaí.

The third man escaped the scene in a van stolen during the incident which contained a quantity of tools.

He was arrested a short time later when gardaí intercepted the vehicle on the N4 Dublin to Sligo road.

The two arrested men, who are also in their 20s, are being detained at Longford Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

The scene of the shooting is being preserved for a full examination by the Garda Technical Bureau.

Anyone who was in the Kilmoyle area between 4.30am and 7.30am today is asked to contact Edgdeworthstown Garda station on 043 6671002 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.

Steven Carroll

Steven Carroll

Steven Carroll is an Assistant News Editor with The Irish Times