A Garda has been shot dead while attending the scene of a robbery in Co. Louth tonight.

At around 9:30 this evening gardai attended the scene of a robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan in Dundalk.

A number of shots were fired during the incident resulting in serious injury to an officer from Dundalk Garda Station.

A dark coloured car left the scene in the direction of Dundalk - gardai believe four people were in the vehicle.