Bar Stool Heroics: Pub Patrons Stop Masked Gunman in Chilling Night at The 79 Inn

A potentially deadly incident was narrowly averted on the evening of Saturday, 10 January 2026, when quick-thinking pub patrons intervened to stop a masked gunman from opening fire inside The 79 Inn.

Gardaí confirmed they were called to the licensed premises following reports that a man had entered the pub wearing a balaclava and carrying a firearm. What unfolded over the following moments, according to witness accounts, was a rapid and instinctive response by those inside—one that likely prevented serious injury or loss of life.

Earlier in the evening, witnesses said the man had been involved in a verbal dispute with another individual inside the pub. While the initial confrontation did not escalate at the time, the situation took a far more serious turn when the man later returned, this time masked and armed.

As the gunman pushed into the bar area, patrons immediately recognised the danger. Before he could raise or fire the weapon, a bar stool was hurled in his direction, striking or obstructing him and disrupting his movement. The sudden intervention caused confusion and broke the momentum of the attack.

In those crucial seconds, the intended target managed to escape unharmed. With the situation spiralling out of his control, the gunman fled the premises before Gardaí arrived.

Gardaí later confirmed that no injuries were reported as a result of the incident. A formal investigation is now underway, and enquiries are ongoing. At the time of publication, Gardaí had not announced any arrests or released details about the suspect’s identity or the firearm involved.

The speed at which the situation unfolded has drawn attention to the role of bystanders in preventing violent crime. In this case, the intervention was not planned or coordinated—it was immediate, reactive, and driven by instinct. Those actions are widely understood to have prevented what could have become a mass-casualty incident.

While Gardaí have urged anyone with information to come forward, officials have remained cautious in their public statements, emphasising that the investigation is active and that further details will be released when appropriate.

Incidents involving firearms in licensed premises are rare, but not without precedent. In previous cases across Ireland, members of the public have intervened during armed robberies or attacks, often at great personal risk. Those cases, like this one, underline both the unpredictability of such situations and the consequences of split-second decisions.

What sets this incident apart is the immediacy of the response. The moment the threat became clear, patrons acted decisively. There was no opportunity for panic to spread, no time for fear to take hold. Instead, the intervention created just enough disruption to prevent the weapon from being used.

For Gardaí, the focus now is on identifying the suspect, establishing how the firearm was obtained, and determining whether others were involved. Investigators are expected to review CCTV footage, take witness statements, and examine forensic evidence from the scene.

For those inside the pub that night, the memory is likely to linger. A routine evening abruptly turned into a life-or-death situation—and ended without bloodshed because ordinary people refused to freeze.

As the investigation continues, the incident stands as a stark reminder of how quickly everyday spaces can become scenes of danger, and how, in rare moments, courage and instinct can change the outcome entirely.