All shots were fired by Garda unit

The only shots fired in an incident which resulted in the death of Det Sgt John Eiffe in Abbeyleix, Co Laois, yesterday afternoon came from a Garda unit, the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, said.

Mr Byrne said Det Sgt John Eiffe, who was 40, was part of a National Surveillance Unit team positioned outside the Allied Irish Bank (AIB) in the town as part of an operation to catch a gang which was attempting to raid the premises after 4 p.m. yesterday.

He was speaking at a press conference at Garda Headquarters in the Phoenix Park, Dublin last night.

"These suspects were confronted by the garda∅ and shots were discharged by a Garda unit, resulting in the death of one of our colleagues," he said.

Mr Byrne was asked if the gang had discharged any shots. He said officers had not found "other" firearms at the scene.

The location was sealed off and a comprehensive search was being conducted last night.

"It appears now that shots were fired by the garda∅ unit," he said.

Two units were involved in the incident in Abbeyleix: the National Surveillance Unit and the Emergency Response Unit.

When asked if the shots fired came from the Emergency Response Unit, Mr Byrne said: "I'm not free to say that at this particular time."

The Commissioner said the shots discharged by the Garda unit also resulted in the injury of another officer, who was last night in Portlaoise General Hospital.

Mr Byrne said he did not believe the officer's injuries were serious.

Four people were arrested at the scene. Mr Byrne said two of them were taken to Portlaoise General Hospital in Co Laois for treatment for injuries sustained during the incident.

Explaining the background to the incident, Mr Byrne said his officers had been targeting those suspected of being involved in armed robberies throughout the State in recent months.

He said he believed a number of the robberies had been carried out by Dublin-based gangs.

The Commissioner said the Garda units involved were tasked with carrying out counter operations with the objective of apprehending those responsible.

He said yesterday three cars occupied by "targeted" people arrived outside the AIB Bank in Abbeyleix between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. yesterday. Garda∅ from specialists units based in Dublin were on duty at the time, he said.

Mr Byrne would not comment on an earlier incident in Urlingford, Co Kilkenny, where three masked men robbed a Bank of Ireland at around 2.30 p.m.

The three men were armed with a shotgun and two knives. A fourth man was waiting outside the bank in a green Mazda 626.

At the press conference, Mr Byrne said he "didn't want to go into" the earlier incident. However, the two incidents are understood to be linked.

Mr Byrne said he had appointed Assistant Commissioner Dick Kelly to carry-out a "comprehensive investigation" into the Abbeyleix incident. He stressed that none of the Assistant Commissioner's officers were involved yesterday.

The Commissioner repeatedly stressed that the investigation was in its very early stages.

Mr Byrne said it was a "tragic day" for the garda∅. He said garda∅ were involved in complex and difficult operations that were "fraught with danger".

Mr Byrne added: "Our thoughts are at this time with the wife and family of our fallen colleague and with those colleagues involved in this operation."

Mr Byrne was accompanied at the press conference by Supt John Farrelly, the Garda press officer.

Mr Farrelly said he and Mr Byrne attended the press conference "under very tragic and sad circumstances for the Garda S∅ochβna."

Det Sgt Eiffe was the 31st garda to be killed in the line of duty since the establishment of the force, according to the Garda Press Office.