Adrian Mackin shot dead Garda Tony Golden before turning the gun on himself

A GARDA officer was shot dead in the Republic by an armed dissident republican last night while attending a domestic incident.

Garda Tony Golden had just come on shift when he answered a call from a distressed woman to go to a house at Mullach Alainn near Omeath, Co Louth around 6 pm.

The 36-year-old officer was confronted by armed Adrian Crevan Mackin.

Mackin then shot dead the father-of-three at point blank range.

The 21-year-old woman in the house, who works at a hairdresser’s in Newry, Co Down, was also seriously injured in the shooting.

She had been in a relationship with 24-year-old Mackin until recently before they split up.

They had two children together – a boy and a girl.

Mackin was currently on bail charged with membership of a dissident republican organisation last January.

Garda Golden is the second member of Garda Siochana to be shot dead in the past two years.

On January 25, 2014, Garda Adrian Donohoe was gunned down outside the Lordship Credit Union in Co Louth while escorting a cash truck.

Members of the Provisional IRA’s south Armagh fuel smuggling gang have been blamed for the shotgun murder.

No one has yet been charged with his murder despite an extensive investigation.

There has been widespread condemnation and shock at last night’s shooting.

The incident has also raised questions about how Mackin had been granted bail and how he had acquired a gun.

Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan described the incident was a “terrible tragedy”.

“I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of my colleague in a fatal shooting incident this evening while carrying out their duties,” she said.

“This incident highlights the unique nature of the job carried out by the men and women of [the police force], and the dangers they face every day.”

Frances Fitzgerald, the Irish justice minister, said the police officer’s death would be “mourned by the entire nation”.

“The fact that [he] has laid down his life while protecting the community is a cause of great sadness,” she said.

“While no words at this time can be expected to console his wife and children, his family, his colleagues and all who loved him, they know that he gave his life protecting the community he was so proud to serve.”

The Republic’s President Michael D Higgins contacted Commissioner O’Sullivan to offer his condolences.

“I want to express my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the Garda who has so tragically lost his life while responding to this incident,” he said.

“My thoughts at this time are also with all others who have been affected by the events in Omeath earlier this evening.”

Justice Minister David Ford said he was “absolutely horrified” to hear about the deaths.

“I spoke to my colleague Frances Fitzgerald in Dublin to express my sympathy and asked her to pass that on to garda officers,” he said.

The Garda Representative Association, which represents rank and file Garda members, said it was “shocked and saddened” by the officer’s death.

President Dermot O’Brien said: “This dreadful, dreadful news is the deepest fear of every police family. This puts everything we do into perspective.”

The scene of the shooting has been sealed off for a forensic examination.