A man in his late 20s was killed yesterday when he was accidentally shot by his friend in Co Limerick.
The victim suffered a fatal wound to the head while shooting targets near the village of Patrickswell.
The accident happened shortly after 12.30pm in a laneway leading to a farm at Faha, Ballyhanrahan, on the Adare side of the village.
It is understood the victim, who is from Limerick, died instantly after sustaining a single wound to the head from a legally held rifle.
The dead man's friend raised the alarm immediately. However, the injured man was pronounced dead at the scene.
His friend provided gardaí with a full statement, and no one else is being sought in relation to the incident.
The scene of the shooting was sealed off for several hours yesterday, and a full technical examination was carried out. Investigating officers confirmed last night that they are treating the shooting as an accident.
A Garda spokesman described it as a terrible tragedy and said gardaí were satisfied that there was nothing suspicious about the circumstances of the man's death.
Deputy State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster is due to carry out a postmortem examination today at the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick.
Shocked locals gathered around the scene of yesterday's tragedy. "It's such an awful thing to have happened on a day when everyone is out enjoying themselves. It's just unbelievable and such a tragedy," said one elderly woman.
The accident took place in a secluded laneway located off a bog road which is often used by people practising target shoots. The area is said to be popular because it is so isolated.
Gardaí said the man's identity would not be released until all relatives had been contacted.