POLICE IN NEW Orleans have confirmed the arrest of two brothers in connection with the shooting of off-duty garda Brian Hanrahan last week.

Hanrahan – who is based in Newcastle West in Limerick – was shot several times after refusing to hand over cash in an attempted mugging.

It happened at around 5.40am on Tuesday of last week, at the intersection of New Orleans Street and North Tonti Street in the city.

In a statement, New Orleans Police Department said officers had arrested 40-year-old Melvin Galle, Jr. for attempted murder and armed robbery.

The arrest, made in co-operation with a US Marshals Task Force, was made at Laharpe Street around 1:50pm yesterday.

“Solid police work coupled with cooperation from the community led detectives to identify Galle as a suspect and arrest him just one week after the incident occurred,” the statement said.

Detectives had identified Galle as one of the suspects throughout the course of the investigation.

Galle’s brother, Keith Galle, was also arrested.

The statement adds:

The investigation is on-going and detectives have not named Keith Galle as a suspect at this time.

Garda Hanrahan was holidaying in the city with his family when the attack happened.

He remains in hospital.

Read: Two years on … but no arrests: A community gathers to remember Garda Adrian Donohoe>