Garda hunt after barman shot in Dublin

Gardaí are investigating the shooting of a barman at a pub in the heart of Dublin’s financial services centre late last night.

Two masked and armed men burst into the Lagoona Bar at around 10.30pm and shot a barman in the shoulder.

The barman was taken to hospital, where his injuries were not believed to be life threatening.

Gardaí recovered some money outside the bar and began taking statements from customers about the attack. The bar was evacuated and sealed off for technical examination.

The Lagoona Bar is located on Custom House Square, directly opposite the National College of Ireland.

The bar's owner, Thomas Smith, was robbed at gunpoint in the early hours of St Patrick’s Day as he returned to his home in Castleknock in Dublin with the night’s takings.

The raiders drove off in a silver Volkswagon Passat car and were pursued by the Garda helicopter.

Gardaí arrested the men in Mulhuddart in North Dublin after a 30-minute high-speed chase.

Mr Smith is also the owner of two pubs in Templebar, Farringtons and The Auld Dubliner.

Detectives from Store Street Garda Station were tonight investigating possible links between the two attacks.