Gardai are investigating whether a row over a drug debt led to an innocent man and his dog being shot at a house.
The man, who is in his 40s, was hit a number of times through the window of the property in the Woodbury Gardens estate in Dundalk.
The dog was killed in the incident while the man was rushed to hospital with a gunshot wound to his stomach shortly after 8pm on Saturday.
READ MORE: Dundalk shooting victim 'lucky to be alive' as Gardai hunt for gunman in probe
Sources said the shooting is suspected to be linked to an ongoing “feud” in the area — and a row over a drug debt — but the victim — an innocent man, was not the intended target.
It is understood that neighbours ran to the man’s aid — with one bringing towels to help stop the bleeding before emergency services arrived.
The male was last night still in hospital but his condition was not being described as being life threatening.
And speaking out yesterday, Sinn Fein TD for Louth, Ruairi O Murchu, condemned the shooting.
He added: “The consensus is that the victim is a well-regarded and quiet man who had been living in the house for many years.
“I would like to praise the efforts of neighbours who went to the man’s aid after the shooting and helped him before emergency services arrived.
“It is believed a car had parked close to a green area in the estate before two men got out and fired a number of shots through the living room window where the man, who was in the house on his own, was sitting. This was a dreadful and frightening incident for the victim and for the people who live in Woodbury Gardens.”
The TD went on to say that the area was a quiet one and people were not used to such violence on their doorstep.
He added: “People here are at a loss as to why something like this would happen on their normally quiet street.
“It is a reckless and cowardly act which I utterly condemn.
“It is a sign of the times we are living in when people feel they can go to someone’s house and fire in the window at them.
“I wish the victim a full and speedy recovery and I would ask that anyone with information about this shooting brings it to the gardai straightaway.” Gardai said they are investigating the incident and the scene was preserved for technical examination yesterday.
Officers are also appealing for any witnesses to the shooting to come forward.
Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the Woodbury Gardens area between 7.30pm and 8.30pm are asked to make this footage available.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Dundalk Garda Station on 042 9388400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
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