Man held after Cavan murder and pub siege

A man has been arrested after a woman was shot dead and hostages were taken in a pub.

This incident began at around 6pm yesterday evening - when the body of the 56-year-old woman was found in a house in the Drumbannon estate on the outskirts of Baileborough, Co. Cavan.

@RTENewsNow scene in Cavan baileboro tonight pic.twitter.com/HHhdalQuo4

— Michael T. Scanlon (@mtsb92) September 6, 2013

Gardaí made the discovery after the sister of the mother of four raised concerns when she failed to make contact with her.

A short time later following the murder (at approximately 8pm) - a man also aged 56 carrying a shotgun - entered the Square Bar in the Market Square in the town and ordered the doors of the pub to be shut and refused to let people leave.

Armed gardaí and the army were forced to seal off streets in Bailieborough.

It is understood he lives locally, is a regular in the bar and a number of the people he took hostage knew him.

Gardaí had appealed for a blackout on reporting of the incident when the alarm was first raised and requested media not to disclose details for several hours.

Armed gardaí were tasked to the street outside the pub for several hours and it is also understood that trained negotiators were called in to try to bring the siege to an end.

People living in the town centre were asked to remain in their homes during the incident and traffic was diverted around the town.

The siege came to an end at around 3am this morning.

The man was arrested and taken to Bailieborough Garda station.

Meanwhile the body of the woman remains at the scene where she was discovered - which has been sealed off awaiting the arrival of the State Pathologist and a Garda forensic team.