Gardaí investigate botched Offaly shooting

Gardaí have issued an appeal in relation to a car thought to have been used in an attempted shooting at a gym in Co Offaly last night.

The gunman entered a gym in the Axis Business Park on the Clara Road in Tullamore and tried to fire two shots from a sawn off shotgun at another man just before 9.30pm.

The man, who was wearing a balaclava and army fatigues, fled the scene when the gun failed to discharge.

A car was found burnt out a short time later near Kilbride Cemetery in Tullamore.

Inspector Kieran Keyes said it was very lucky the gun did not fire. “Had he succeeded in firing someone would have been killed or seriously injured,” he said.

He is appealing for information on a dark coloured 97WH registered Vauxhall car which was found burnt out after the attack.

Gardaí also want to speak with anyone who noticed anything in the Axis Business Park on the Clara Road between 9pm and 9.30pm last night. “I’m appealing to anybody who may have been in the vicinity of Kilbride Cemetery area of Tullamore who may have seen anything unusual,” said Inspector Keyes. “We are aware that there was a lot of activity in the Kilbride area of Tullamore between 6pm and 9pm last night with people walking and carrying out farm work,” he said.

Anyone with information can contact Tullamore Garda Station on (057) 93 27600.