A 31-year-old man made a string of apologies when charged over a crime spree in Co Laois after a petrol station was raided, a woman’s life threatened, a gun fired and a van hijacked.

The President, Mary McAleese, will lead mourners at the funeral mass of garda sergeant John Eiffe this morning.

Hundreds of people have gathered in Rathoath, Co Meath, for the removal of Garda sergeant John Eiffe, who was shot by a colleague during a botched garda operation in Abbeyleix, Co Laois, on Friday.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has expressed his sympathy to the family of the garda shot dead in Abbeyleix, Co Laois, yesterday evening.