It has emerged that the garda shot in Louth last night was Garda Tony Golden who was aged 32, married and has three children under the age of 8.
At approximately 6:20pm yesterday evening, three gardai from Omeath garda station approached a house where a 999 call was made from a woman in distress.
It is claimed the woman believed her life to be in danger, unfortunately she was right.
Garda Golden entered the house at was confronted by 24-yr-old Adrian Mackin from Co. Down , believed to be a member of the IRA.
Adrian Mackin pulled a handgun on the unarmed garda and shot him in the hall of the house. He then turned the gun on the woman before he took his own life.
The garda is believed to have been pronounced dead at the scene, while the woman was taken to Our Lady Of Lourdes hospital where she is said to be in a stable condition.
It is believed that the dead garda was only recently assigned to a new position he held in the County Louth station.