A MAN HAS died following a shooting incident outside the village of Newport in Tipperary last night.

The man in his mid-40s was driving a van on the Thurles Road when he was pulled over by Gardaí on a routine patrol at about 7.30pm.

Two members of the Garda Síochána spoke to the man before he produced a firearm.

According to a spokesperson for the Garda Ombudsman, a struggle ensued between the driver of the van and one of the Gardaí.

He fired a number of shots before one of the Garda members managed to take the firearm off him.

The man then produced a second gun and proceeded to fire another set of rounds towards the two Gardaí.

He then turned the gun on himself, wounding himself fatally in the head.

Neither of the Gardaí, who were unarmed, were shot in the incident.

The incident has been referred to the Garda Ombudsman under section 102 of the Garda Síochána act and investigators were at the scene overnight.

The body of the man, who has yet to be named, is still at scene.

The road will remain closed for a long period today as the site is preserved. Local diversions are in place.

It is understood that the deceased was not known to Gardaí.