A 36-year-old man is being treated in hospital after he was shot during a planned Garda operation in Co Limerick this morning.
The incident happened at around 2.30am at Rathbrouder about 2 kilometres south of Shanagolden on the R521 Ardagh/Newcastlewest road.
It’s understood that a silver Toyota Corolla car was stopped by members of the Garda Regional Support Unit (RSU) from the Cork Garda division.
The driver of the car was shot in the face after armed officers approached the car. The passenger, also a male, was uninjured but was arrested at the scene. The men are believed to be Lithuanian nationals.
The circumstances of the shooting and why or how the firearm was discharged are under investigation.
Members of Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) visited the scene after they were informed of the incident.
It is understood there were a number of other gardaí were also in the area at the time of the shooting.
The road remained closed until shortly after 10am when the car was removed from the scene for a technical examination.
The injured man is reported to be in a serious condition at University Hospital Limerick.
A GSOC spokeswoman said: “The incident was referred by the Garda Síochána to GSOC under section 102 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which provides for independent investigation of “any matter that appears to indicate that the conduct of a member of the Garda Síochána may have resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person”.