Man murdered in random attack in Co. Louth

The murders in Dublin diverted attention from an atrocity which took place in Co. Louth late on Tuesday night. In an act of random violence near Dromod, one man died and another was badly injured.
A drunken gang, thought to be members of the Travelling community, had hijacked a number of vehicles that night, slashing one car owner with a machete; he required 45 stitches to his arm. In a stolen people carrier they later rammed a car from behind at Upper Faughart. In the ensuing altercation the two occupants of the damaged car were attacked. Aidan Myers (37), from Cox's Demesne in Dundalk, died later in hospital while his friend, who was driving, was less seriously injured.
The gang went on to hijack at least one other vehicle north of the border but no one has been arrested, although at one stage they rammed a garda vehicle.
In the same area a day earlier, a man in his 30s was shot in the side while attending the funeral of a member of the Travelling community. The victim, from south Dublin, was admitted to hospital where his injuries were said not to be life-threatening. Gardaí recovered two firearms at the scene but no one was arrested. No one has suggested that this was connected with the following day's violent rampage.
Nor has any link been made publicly with another incident in the early hours of Saturday. At approximately 1:45am a car failed to stop for members of the Traffic Corps in Dundalk. The vehicle was followed onto the Armagh Road where it collided with a taxi. It then turned around and drove directly at the pursuing garda patrol car, damaging it before crashing a short time later at Faughart Lower.
The driver was arrested and later in the day Stephen Campbell (32), from Bessbrook, Co. Armagh appeared in Ardee District Court charged with drink driving, dangerous driving, and four alleged hit-and-run offences in Dundalk. He was also charged with failing to give a breath specimen.