Garda killed in attempted bank robbery

Irish police have said a detective killed near Dundalk in County Louth was shot without warning. Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, 41, a father of two, was murdered as he acted to stop an attempted robbery at a branch of Credit Union bank in Bellurgan, Jenkinstown.

He was shot in the head and died at the scene after he and a colleague tried to stop four armed men hijacking a security van delivery. Police said he did not produce his weapon. A post mortem examination is due to be carried out at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

The Irish Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, condemned the murder: "This was an outrageous act of cold-blooded violence that has left a family without a husband and father and An Garda Siochana without a brave and valued member." President Michael D Higgins described it as a "dreadful crime and all Irish people will be truly appalled by it".

An extensive manhunt was continuing last night for the four raiders who escaped in a dark coloured saloon car.