Garda manhunt underway as man pulls gun on ambulance crew stopped at traffic lights

The paramedics, who are attached to the National Ambulance Service North East Region, are back at work after the incident which occurred at 10.30pm on July 27

Gardaí are hunting a gunman who threatened an ambulance crew with a pistol just metres from a busy hospital.

Two paramedics – one male and one female – were left traumatised after a masked man pulled a revolver on them while they were stopped at traffic lights.

There were no casualties on board the ambulance which was just metres away from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth, when they were targeted.

A source told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “They were on their way back to the hospital between calls, thankfully there were no casualties on board at the time.

“They stopped at the lights and next thing a man with a hood covering his face stepped out in front of them and pulled a gun on them. They really thought ‘this is it, we are going to be shot’. They are both severely traumatised by this.

“The ambulance crews in Drogheda have had to respond to a lot of violent incidents over the past two years with the ongoing feud.

“But they feel very aggrieved at being singled out and targeted like this when they are trying to do their job, which is all about saving lives.

“This man didn’t demand drugs or anything. He just pulled out a revolver, pointed it at them through the windscreen, then walked off calm as you like.”

The paramedics, who are attached to the National Ambulance Service North East Region, are back at work after the incident which occurred at 10.30pm.

Gardai confirmed they were investigating reports of an incident “which occurred at Cross Lane, Drogheda on Thursday 27 July. No further information is available”.

The incident has sparked fears that the Drogheda feud, which led to the killing and dismemberment of teenager Keane Mulready-Woods, could be about to kick off again.

Retired Chief Supt Christy Mangan described the feud as “one of the most difficult times in the history of the State”.

The 17-year-old’s murder was the third of four in the feud which started in 2018 when a gang split in two and started a drugs turf war.

It sparked 100 incidents including daylight shootings, attempted murders, firebombs and stabbings with innocent victims caught in the crossfire.