President Michael D. Higgins has condemned the shooting of a PSNI officer in Omagh, County Tyrone.
And police investigating the shooting of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell have arrested three men, aged 38, 45 and 47, on suspicion of attempted murder, Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Simon Byrne said.
The arrests were made in Omagh and Coalisland in County Tyrone.
Mr. Byrne, according to an Irish Times report, said DCI Caldwell had surgery overnight and remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital.
His young son was with him as he coached young people at a sports center in Killyclogher Road on Wednesday evening. His son witnessed the shooting.
An attempted murder investigation has been launched with investigators paying particular attention to the dissident republican group the New IRA.
In a statement President Higgins said: “The shooting of a police officer in front of his son is something that will be condemned by all those who believe in democracy and the peace that we all need to sustain.
"It is to be welcomed that members of all communities have expressed their revulsion at this act.”
