A detective garda has been shot and killed tonight at the scene of an attempted robbery of a credit union.
The deceased was with another colleague and was on escort duty at Bellurgan, Jenkinstown in Dundalk at about 9.30pm when the shooting took place.
Multiple shots were fired in the incident at the Lordship Credit Union premises.
The raiders immediately fled the scene in what is understood to be a dark coloured Volkswagen Passat.
Two arrests were made in Whitehall, near Dublin airport, but there were conflicting reports as to whether these were connected to the incident.
Several garda cars had responded instantly in an effort to close down the road network surrounding the town to prevent their getaway. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) was also contacted.
While The Irish Times is aware of his identity, it is not being revealed out of respect for his family and colleagues who were coming to terms with the tragedy tonight.
The man was in his late thirties and married. He was stationed in Dundalk.
Gardai tonight appealed for witnesses to contact the incident room at Dundalk Garda Station at 042-9388400, the Garda Confidential Number 1-800-666-111.
