By Jimmy Woulfe, Mid west Correspondent
A man has died from a reportedly self-inflicted gunshot at a hospital church in Limerick.
The man, in his 70s, had gone to attend a clinic at University Hospital Limerick.
On leaving the main hospital building, he went to the hospital’s church, at the entrance to UHL, where his body was discovered around 3pm.
A handgun was found near the man’s body and he died from a single bullet wound to the chest.
Gardaí were alerted and sealed off the area pending a full forensic investigation of the scene.
More than 20 gardai remain at scene of University Hospital Limerick. Official comment awaited from gardai. More later via @Limerick_Leader pic.twitter.com/mCwk11JFN0
— Anne Sheridan (@annesheridan1) January 18, 2017
A doctor in the hospital rushed to the scene immediately, as the alarm was raised, but pronounced the man dead.
The man, it is understood, had been receiving treatment for a serious illness and had been attending the hospital as an outpatient.
It is believed the man, who had strong Republican links, lived in the Castleconnell area of Co Limerick.