A man was shot and killed in a gun attack in west Dublin last night in what is believed to have been the capital's latest gangland murder.
Gardaí were called to a house in the Woodavons Estate in Ronanstown shortly before midnight where they found the victim, who is said to be in his 20s, with a number of gun shot wounds.
A number of efforts were made to resuscitate the man but he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The area has been sealed off and the man's body remains at the scene today.
The State Pathologist is due to carry out an examination later. Gardaí at Ronanstown have appeal for witnesses to come forward and contact them on 01- 6667700.
The killing is believed to be the 12th gangland murder of the year, which is the total number for all of 2007.
Last month convicted armed robber and drug dealer Paul “Farmer” Martin was shot dead as he sat drinking in the Jolly Toper pub in Finglas. A few weeks earlier, criminal Trevor Walsh was shot four times in the garden of a house in Finglas, just hours after being released from Mountjoy Prison.
It is the second gangland killing in the Ronanstown area within six months. Last March drug dealer Richard McCormack (29) was shot dead outside his brother's home in St Ronan's Drive.
Sinn Féin Councillor Shane O'Connor said today there were a number of people living in the Ronanstown area with links to the drugs trade. "There are a few players in the area," he said.
Labour Party TD for Joanna Tuffy said she was disturbed that violent incidents like last night's are becoming more commonplace.
"The murdered man lived in an estate right beside a Garda Station which shows the perpetrators of this crime are operating without fear," she said.
"This is the 12th gun murder this year and unfortunately Dublin Mid-West has been the location for some of these murders." She said the Labour Party had recently got figures which show the conviction rate has dropped to just 12 per cent, meaning that around just one in eight of those responsible have been brought to justice.