Gardai in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, are searching for four armed raiders who drove over a businessman after he confronted them as they robbed his service station in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Mr Michael Quinn (38) underwent surgery for serious leg injuries after the gang knocked him down and drove over him - dragging him along the forecourt of the garage - before fleeing the scene.
The father of four had gone to investigate noises that woke his wife just after 4 a.m. when he was met by three masked and armed men in the shop attached to the Clough Valley Stores and service station on the Carrickmacross-Castleblayney road.
During the confrontation, shots were exchanged and gardai believe these would have been heard in the area.
After they were confronted by Mr Quinn, two of the raiders fled around the back of the premises while another jumped into the getaway car and the fourth raider drove the vehicle into the nearby Valley Close housing estate.
The driver continuously beeped the car's horn to attract the attention of the other two gang members.
They then regrouped and drove back towards Carrickmacross but drove over Mr Quinn, causing his serious injuries.
The raid was condemned in the town. Local auctioneer and councillor Mr Shane O'Hanlon said: "The feeling is one of shock and horror at what took place. You don't expect to be woken during the night in that way. It reminds everyone we should be more vigilant to eradicate crime."
He said Mr Quinn was a popular man who worked long hours to build up his successful business and was obviously targeted for that reason.
The Garda investigation is headed by Supt Tom Long. "This was a well planned and executed robbery, and we are appealing for witnesses to contact the incident room in Carrickmacross Garda station", he said.
The alarm was disconnected by the raiders, who arrived carrying a firearm, slash-hook and iron bar.
The gang used a silver Mitsubishi Galant car, which had blacked out registration plates.
The Quinn family and Cllr O'Hanlon praised the quick response of gardai, who erected a roadblock minutes after the attack.
The gardai forced the Mitsubishi Galant into the side of the main street as it tried to head towards the main N2 route and the road to Dublin.
The roadblock forced the car to drive on to the footpath and in the direction of Dundalk.
Last night, Supt Long said gardai were following a number of lines of inquiry into the identities of the culprits.
Mr Quinn is being treated in the orthopaedic unit of Our Lady's Hospital in Navan.
His wife and two children are being comforted by family and friends.