A Co Wicklow pub owner was awaiting surgery in hospital last night after receiving a gunshot wound to the leg during an unsuccessful raid on his premises early yesterday morning.
Gardaí yesterday arrested a man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s in Dublin in connection with the robbery. They are detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. The man is detained at Arklow Garda station, and the woman at Gorey.
Mr Michael Kenny (45), owner of The Corner House pub in Main Street, Carnew, whose injuries are said to be not life threatening, was on the premises at the end of the night with his wife, Elizabeth, and two staff.
Three armed men entered the premises, went into the lounge, fired a single shot injuring Mr Kenny in the leg, before fleeing empty handed.
A member of the pub's staff said: "The Kennys and the staff were cleaning up and washing the floors when the three men burst through the door. They fired a single shot in the lounge, and then left quickly afterwards.
"Thankfully Michael wasn't badly hurt, and that they left empty handed."
The staff member said the staff was finishing up after a "normal brisk" Saturday night's trade when the incident happened.
The parish priest, Father Martin Casey, called to the scene of the shooting moments after the raiders fled.
"As soon as I heard about the incident I called up to the pub to see how he was doing. At that stage the doctor and the ambulance had been called but he seemed to be alright."
Mr Kenny was taken to Naas general hospital, where his condition was described yesterday as comfortable. He is to be transferred to St James's Hospital in Dublin for plastic referral surgery.
Residents of the small town expressed their shock at yesterday's shooting. "It's awful, I was only in there a couple of hours before it happened. I'm delighted to hear that Michael's life isn't in danger," said one town resident.
"It's a miracle that no one was killed. This is only a small town, and such events do affect us all in one way or another. I hope that whoever carried out the shooting is caught," said another local. The pub was closed for several hours yesterday as Garda forensic experts carried out examinations.