A man injured in a shooting attack in Drogheda is in a “serious but stable” condition in hospital.

The attack happened just after 4:20pm this afternoon in the Hardmans Gardens area of the city.

Gardaí said a number of other people “very narrowly avoided being shot and seriously injured” in an attack they described as a “callous and reckless.”

The 36-year-old victim was shot a number of times in the leg and shoulder.

He is being treated at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.

“Callous and reckless"

Appealing for witnesses this evening; investigators warned that the attack was carried out “in broad daylight” in a residential part of the town.

Superintendent Andrew Watters from Drogheda Garda Station said the “indiscriminate” attack had endangered members of the public and children.

He said investigators are making effort to identify the culprits and appealed to the Drogheda community to come forward with any information which will assist the investigation.

Witnesses

Gardaí said the attackers were travelling in a red Volkswagon Golf with the registration number 191D31786.

The car was later found burnt out on the Rathmullen road in the Sheephouse area of the town.

Two men are believed to have fled from the car as it was abandoned.

Gardaí are interested in talking to:

• Members of the public who saw anything or anyone unusual in the Hardmans area of Drogheda before 4:23pm.
• Anyone who saw a red Volkswagon Golf in the Drogheda area today.
• Any drivers who were in the Hardmans Gardens, Lady of Lourdes Church and Rathmullen Road areas between 4pm and 5pm and who may have dash-cam footage.
• Anyone with any information on the attack.

Investigators are particularly interested in talking to the drivers of a dark navy coloured taxi and a rigid lorry with a white cab (advertising Tipperary Water) which were stopped directly behind the attackers red Volkswagon golf.

Investigators remain at the scene this evening.

These local residents said they thought they heard gunshots at around 4:25pm.

In a statement this evening, Louth TD Declan Breathn said the attack “demonstrates the level of depravity the thugs who carry out these acts will sink to.”

“The shooting of a man in broad daylight, in the vicinity of schools, a church and shops is deplorable,” he said.

“Any number of innocent people could have been caught up in the attack. It is the ordinary citizens who are suffering at the hands of a minority.”

He said an ongoing gangland feud in the town has seen a number of arson, knife and gun attacks in recent weeks.