Police are hunting for four men after Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed while guarding a cash delivery in County Louth.
A Garda detective has been shot dead in Ireland during a botched hold-up.
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was with a colleague escorting a cash delivery to a credit union in Dundalk, County Louth.
Several shots were fired during the incident at the Lordship Credit Union, on the Cooley Road in the town at around 9.30pm.
It is believed the force is now hunting four men in a grey Volkswagen Passat which fled the scene.
Sky's Ireland correspondent David Blevins said: "There is a very significant security operation under way with the Garda helicopter hovering overhead.
"The Irish police have set up checkpoints on the southern side of the Irish border and the Police Sevice of Northern Ireland have checkpoints on the northern side of the Irish border."
The officer, who was based at Dundalk Garda station, was fatally injured in the shooting.
Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan said: "I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of my colleague Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe.
"Detective Garda Donohoe died as a result of injuries sustained in the course of his duty following a shooting incident in Dundalk.
"At this time my thoughts and prayers and those of the entire force are with the family, friends and close colleagues of Adrian."
Det Donohoe is understood to leave behind three children. He lived in the Lordship area, around a kilometre (0.6 miles) from the credit union where he was killed.
Local councillor Jim Loughran described him as a quiet, decent family man.
"I just spoke to him last week on the street in town. I can't believe this has happened," he said.
The Sinn Fein councillor, who knew the detective through their local GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) club St Patrick's, also condemned those responsible for the shooting.
"This was not just an attack on a Garda detective, it was an attack on the whole community," he said.
It is believed staff at the credit union were locking up when the shooting occurred.
Councillor Declan Breathnach said it was not unusual for it to remain open late into the evening.
"It would be fairly busy on a Friday evening, with some people just getting their week's pay or wanting to sort out money for the weekend," he said.
"This was just such a despicable, heinous act. I still can't believe it but I utterly condemn it."
Gardai have appealed for witnesses to contact them at Dundalk Garda Station on 042-9388400.
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