Gardaí were continuing a painstaking examination of the house and grounds of murdered ex-garda John Keirns in a forensic hunt for traces of his killers yesterday.

Gardaí have said they are following a number of lines of inquiry following the fatal shooting of a former Garda near Bailieborough in Cavan yesterday.

A post mortem will be carried out this morning on the body of a former garda shot dead in County Cavan yesterday.

A murder investigation was under way last night after a former garda was shot dead at his home outside Bailieborough, Co Cavan.