Three people have been arrested over the shooting of a 44-year-old man in Waterford city on Monday.
Two men (30 and 32 years old) and one woman (27) are being held in custody at Waterford Garda station. The woman is detained under Section 4 Criminal Justice Act, 1984 which allows gardaí to hold suspects for up to 24 hours. The two men are detained under Section 30 Offences Against the State Act, 1939 which allows gardaí to hold suspects for up to 72 hours. The victim who is in his 40s remains in a critical condition.
Meanwhile the victim of the shooting remains in a critical condition in intensive care at University Hospital Waterford after undergoing surgery for at least two gunshot wounds to the abdomen.
Shooting
The victim of the shooting had been collected by a friend on Monday afternoon and they had driven to Carrickpherish Road in the city when the man asked his companion to stop the car near the Mount Suir Apartments.
It is believed the injured man went to meet two men outside a shop in the area but a row allegedly broke out between them.
It is understood one of the men pulled out a handgun and shot the injured party at least twice in the abdomen and chest.
It’s understood that the two men fled into a nearby apartment building and gardaí later used battering equipment to gain access to the building but it appeared that the men had left the building and no arrests were made.
Witnesses phoned for help and the injured man, who is understood to be from the locality.
The injured man was initially treated at the scene by paramedics before he was taken by Ambulance to University Hospital Waterford where he underwent emergency surgery for gunshot wounds on Friday afternoon.
Gardaí spoke briefly to the man at the scene and say they are keeping an open mind on the motive for the attack which has shocked people in the area which is just over 2kms from Waterford city centre.
Meanwhile it’s understood that the injured man’s companion may have accidentally hit his friend, causing lower limb injuries, as he fled the scene in his car and gardaí have since spoken to him and taken a statement.
Gardaí cordoned off the scene of the shooting for a forensic examination by garda technical experts and the road remained closed for most of Friday afternoon and evening with diversions in place.
Gardaí have also begun harvesting CCTV footage from the area to try and establish the exact sequence of events and they have appealed for any witnesses to contact them at Waterford Garda Station on 051-305300.
