Gardaí recover weapon at scene of attempted robbery

Gardai have recovered a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in a ditch near the scene of yesterday’s attempted robbery in Abbeyleix, Co Laois. A 40-year-old Garda died of wounds sustained in the incident and another Garda was injured.

The deceased, named as Det Sgt John Eiffe, a member of the Garda National Surveillance Unit (GNSU), is believed to have been accidentally shot by a colleague.

An internal garda investigation is underway into the death of Det Sgt Eiffe in the course of duty yesterday at Abbeyleix, Co Laois.

Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne ordered the investigation last night, and confirmed that the only shots fired came from Garda weapons.

A second garda was injured and taken to Portlaoise General Hospital. Mr Byrne said his injuries were not serious.

The GNSU, along with officers from the Emergency Response Unit, was in Abbeyleix following surveillance of a four-man armed gang who earlier in the day had robbed a branch of the Bank of Ireland in Urlingford, Co Kilkenny. Several thousand pounds had been taken during that raid.

At least five shots were fired when four men confronted by the Gardaí at around 4.15 p.m. yesterday outside an AIB branch at Main Street, Abbeyleix.

Det Garda Eiffe was seriously injured and taken to hospital, where his death was formally announced shortly after his family arrived at 7 p.m.

Originally from Co Meath, Det Sgt Eiffe (40) was a married man with four children aged from 14 to two.

The four suspected raiders were arrested at the scene and are being held at Garda stations in Portlaoise and Tullamore. Two of them received treatment for minor injuries.