Up to 40 people living in the centre of Roscrea, Co Tipperary, were evacuated from their homes yesterday after a man believed to be doused in petrol and holding gas cannisters barricaded himself into his house in the town.
Gardaí sealed off Rosemary Street and Rosemary Square at lunchtime and called in bomb disposal experts, launching a full-scale alert under the direction of Assistant Commissioner Martin Donnellan.
Gardaí initially asked for a news blackout about the incident, which was respected by all news media. Shortly after 10pm, however, the Garda said that details could be made public.
At a press conference in Roscrea late last night, Supt Kevin Donohoe of the Garda Press Office said trained Garda negotiators had established telephone contact with the man inside the house in Rosemary Street. He said that a number of issues raised by the man would be "fully looked into".
The man was named locally as Jim Hourigan, a separated father of three in his 50s who moved to the town about three years ago from Limerick.
Local people said Mr Hourigan had initially worked as an electrician at a factory before he was involved in an industrial accident. They said they believed he was receiving a disability allowance since the accident.
Gardaí said they were alerted to a situation in the house at 1.30pm and a Garda unit was sent to investigate.
A device which was not consistent with a normal domestic situation was observed, according to the Garda, and the unit withdrew.
By teatime, three units of Tipperary fire brigade, a number of ESB vans and a Midlands Health Board ambulance were in position at the corner of Rosemary Square and Rosemary Street, a few doors from Mr Hourigan's three-storey home.
Gardaí said all issues, including the bringing in of members of the man's family, would be considered if they were thought likely to be beneficial.
Supt O'Donohoe said the gardaí were going to take as long as they needed. The first priority, he stressed, was the safety of the man and of the gardaí present at the scene.
The local Fianna Fáil TD, Michael Smith, whose constituency office is situated in Rosemary Square, told reporters that he knew Mr Hourigan slightly.
Mr Smith said gardaí were approaching the incident with the utmost caution.
He said he was intending to visit the Muintir na Tire hall in the town where the people who had been evacuated from their homes were being offered overnight accommodation.
As darkness fell last night the townspeople mingled with a large media presence at either end of Rosemary Street.
Evcacuees present at the scene said Mr Hourigan was a quiet man who could be seen walking his dog in the town regularly.
One Rosemary Street resident, John Brereton, described Mr Hourigan as a gentle man who kept himself to himself.
Another resident Jim Nash said he met Mr Hourigan most days walking his dog and he was always friendly and polite.
A Rosemary Street trader said Mr Hourigan had done a wonderful job decorating his home with hanging baskets of flowers and had put a lot of effort into looking after his home which he shared with a dog and a cat.
Mr Hourigan was recently praised by the Roscrea Tidy Towns organisation for his work. Gardai were continuing negotiations early today.