Gardai have named the man was shot dead last night in a gangland-style murder in west Dublin.
Thomas McDonagh (28) died after he was shot outside his house in St Mark's Crescent, Clondalkin.
Garda sources indicated Mr McDonagh was shot at least once in the head and twice in the upper body. A lone gunman fled on foot in the direction of St Mark's Avenue after the shooting, according to gardaí.
Mr McDonagh was taken to Tallaght Hospital after the gun attack where he was later pronounced dead.
The scene of the shooting remained sealed off this afternoon for technical examination and gardaí are appealing for anyone who may have been in the area between 9pm and 10pm last night to contact them at Ronanstown Garda Station.
It is the second fatal shooting in the area so far this year. On January 23rd 22-year-old Damien Dowdall was shot dead in the Lealand Estate in Clondalkin.
Mr Dowdall, who was not known to gardaí, died after two gunmen attacked him at his girlfriend's house. Two men called to the house and forced their way inside where they confronted the victim in the sitting room and fired two shots at him in front of the woman.
The latest violent
killing is likely to lead to renewed criticism from the Opposition of the Government's record on gun crime following a record level of gun homicides last year, dubbed "the year of the gangster" by Fine Gael.
Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has already come under pressure this year following four hostage robberies, also known as "tiger robberies", since the start of 2007.
