EUR1,000 taken by raiders who shot Clare man

The Co Clare victim of a fatal shooting on New Year's Eve died as a result of a single gunshot to his side, according to the preliminary results of a post-mortem examination yesterday.

Seán Poland, a blocklayer and dealer in second-hand cars, was shot after opening the front door of his home at Blackwater, Ardnacrusha, to a gang of up to six men at 11.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

About €1,000 is believed to have been taken by the gang after Mr Poland's partner, Ms Joanne Lyons, was tied up inside the house. Ms Lyons managed to free herself after about 40 minutes and was able to raise the alarm early on New Year's Day.

Supt William Keane revealed yesterday that a post-mortem examination carried out by the State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison, showed that Mr Poland had died from a gunshot wound to his side.

The superintendent has appealed to anyone who was in the Blackwater or Ardnacrusha area between 11.30 p.m. and midnight on Tuesday to come forward if they witnessed any suspicious activity.

However, since the time of the shooting coincided with the countdown to the New Year celebrations, it is not thought likely that many people would have been out of doors when the raid on Mr Poland's house took place.

Supt Keane said: "We have to be conscious of the fact that it [the shooting] happened at 11.30 p.m. It was very showery in the area at the time and, being New Year's Eve, not that many people were out and about."

He said that gardaí had not been able to ascertain whether there had been a conversation between Mr Poland and members of the gang before the fatal shooting occurred. He explained that Mr Poland's partner, Ms Lyons, was very traumatised by what had occurred.

The superintendent said that gardaí would be examining recent business transactions in Mr Poland's second-hand car dealership as part of the murder investigation. He added: "Any murder investigation has to be all-encompassing and this is just one avenue we are exploring."

Yesterday, members of the Garda Technical Bureau were carrying out a detailed search of Mr Poland's home for evidence which might lead them to the gang.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Mayorstone Garda station on 061-456980.