LAST UPDATE | 18 Jul

A MAN IN his 70s is in hospital in Mullingar, Co Westmeath after a reported shooting at his home in Longford Town yesterday evening. 

The incident occurred at around 7:50 pm yesterday, a Garda spokesperson said. 

The man in his 70s was taken to Regional Hospital Mullingar following the incident, and his condition is described by gardaí as “serious but stable”.

The scene was technically examined last night and earlier today.

No arrests have been made but investigations are ongoing.

Local Fianna Fáil councillor Seamus Butler, who lives near to the house where the man was shot, told The Journal that “people are shocked” by the attack.

Butler said that at least two shots were fired into the man’s living room window, where he understands other people were also present, and that the pensioner was reportedly hit in the leg and chest. 

He said that Longford has had issues with “serious criminal violence” in the past but that a shooting like yesterday’s was “not an everyday occurrence”. 

“It’s very unusual that firearms are used in Longford,” he said.

“When I took over the chair of the joint policing committee, we had the armed response unit and the public order unit in Longford for a period of time, but we got through all that, and that’s very much in the past.”

Butler, who is Longford Municipal District’s Cathaoirleach, has urged people not to seek retaliation. 

“I’ve urged that there be no escalation or response, certainly with arms,” he said. 

He also said that Longford is in need of more policing resources, especially a visible and consistent Garda presence on the streets in Longford Town.  

“I think this is a wake up bell now to get those resources.”

Gardaí are appealing to anyone with any information on this incident to contact them and they are particularly interested in anyone who was in the Springlawn area between 7.30pm and 8pm, as well as any road users who may have video footage.

The investigation team can be contacted at Longford Garda Station 043 335 0570, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

In 2019, armed gardaí were deployed to respond to rising violence between rival gangs in Longford that featured shootings, fire bombs thrown into homes, torched cars and other targeted attacks.

The gangs were not based in the town itself, but many of the incidents in the feud occurred in and around the greater Longford Town area.