A MAN was being treated for gunshot injuries in hospital late last night after armed detectives foiled an attempted robbery at the home of a businessman near Swords, Co Dublin. A garda was slightly hurt in the incident and was also being treated in hospital, Frank McNally writes.
The raid happened at Lispopple, between Swords and Ashbourne, shortly after midnight. The door of the intended victim's home was kicked in by a man wearing a balaclava and carrying a pump action shotgun. But the attempted robbery ended when two armed gardai, who were in the house, confronted the raider and shot him.
A garda spokesman could not say whether the detectives were acting on a tip off.
The wounded man, whom gardai said was hit in the "upper body", attempted to escape but was captured. The rest of the gang, either two or three #aiders according to the detectives, fled the scene.
The wounded man, whom gardai said was from Ballyfermot, was last night under guard at Dublin's Beaumont Hospital. A spokeswoman said his injuries were still being assessed, but they are not believed to be life threatening.