Man injured in gangland-style attack in local pub

Residents of Bettystown were in shock this week following a gangland-style shooting in a popular local public house. A 41-year-old man was injured in the incident at McDonough's pub at around 9.40pm on Saturday night and Laytown Gardai have appealed for information on the incident. The injured man, who was known to the Gardai, was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, but his injuries were described as non-life threatening. Two men entered the pub at around 9.40pm on Saturday evening and opened fire with a handgun on the victim, who was sitting on a stool inside the door. The man fled into the toilets but was pursued by the gunmen. He was hit at least twice in the incident although eight rounds were fired by the men, who fled from the scene on foot. Both culprits were described as being between 5'7" and 5'10", one of thin build the other a heavy build, both wearing hooded tops with scarves disguising their faces. The scene was preserved for technical examination and CCTV footage is being examined. There were a number of CCTV cameras inside the premises. The owner of the premises, Donal McDonough, was in the beer garden at the back of the premises when the attack happened. "I heard the shots and one of the barmen came and told me there had been a shooting, so I rang the Gardai," he said. He said the victim had been a reasonably regular customer, but he didn't know anything about him. "I have see him going in and out, but we weren't on first name terms," he added. There were about 60 people on the premises at the time and the front bar was full, but none of the other customers was injured in the shooting. Witnesses who were in the pub at the time of the shooting or members of the public who witnessed any suspicious or unusual activity in and around Bettystown on Saturday evening are asked to contact the Gardai in Laytown on (041) 981 3320 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111. The Gardai are particularly anxious to ascertain how the culprits left the area and are looking for any information on vehicles seen speeding in the area at around 9.40pm on Saturday night. Gardai say the response from the public so far has been good, but they still want to talk to anyone who was in the area at the time and who has not yet come forward. One local resident said people in the area were horrified that this kind of shooting incident could happen in the quiet seaside town. "It is something you hear about in the city, but you don't expect it to come to your own town," she said.