Residents in a rural area of West Waterford say they were left terrified after hearing gunshots on Saturday night.
Shortly after 1am the first four shots were heard. There was then a pause before three more happened. Then a final shot rang out moments later.
It was all over by approximately 1.30am but by that stage, those living in that country area were wide awake and desperately trying to find out what was going on.
The situation was made all the more puzzling, and frightening, by the fact that at least three neighbours reported hearing someone rapping on their backdoors or windows shortly before the gunshots were heard.
We're nervous and we're terrified
Speaking to WLR News from the kitchen of one of the houses this afternoon, residents described a scene of pandemonium after the shots were fired as people tried to find out from their neighbours if they had heard the same thing, and if everyone was safe.
Two of the residents barely avoided crashing into each other on the narrow road - which lies between the road from Lismore to the Vee and the road to Mellaray - as they rushed to see that all was ok around them.
"We're nervous and we're terrified," one local told WLR News.
"It just doesn't make sense to us, you know? It's very frightening. And it's the fact that I had only gone to bed - I had literally only turned off the lights. I wasn't asleep.
"Were they waiting for me to turn off the lights? You know, I have all this fear.
"Plus, I have kids. I'm nearly afraid to leave them at home anymore. It's not a nice way to live."
Many of the families in the area have young children who have also been shaken by what happened.
Gardaí from Dungarvan and Lismore have confirmed that they are aware of the incident and that the matter is currently under investigation.
Members of the force searched the area on Sunday and residents say they have been extremely helpful.
However, they are anxious to get answers to what happened as they are losing sleep with the fear that someone dangerous could still be in the locality.
"The one good thing is that we have a great little community," the local person told WLR, "We will all pull together. We'll all share numbers and we'll all talk and if we hear things, we'll all ring each other, no matter what time of the day or night.
"You don't think it could happen in this area but we're not naive, we know that there are things going on in towns all over the country. But communities need to come together."
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Dungarvan Garda Station on 058 48600.
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