The Garda Commissioner, Noel Conroy, has said that if criminals commit crimes with firearms, they could expect that gardaí would react to ensure public safety.
Speaking in Dublin, Mr Conroy said he regretted any loss of life but that gardaí were serious about people who go out with arms to commit a robbery.
Last week, two raiders were shot dead by gardaí during an attempted robbery of a post office in Lusk, Co Dublin.
