Gardaí probe dissident link in gangland murder
They are also examining the possibility the death may have resulted from a row at a social event in Monaster-evin, Co Kildare, earlier that day.
In addition, the detective team are investigating his criminal background and his involvement at a senior level in a notorious criminal network behind organised burglaries across the country for many years.
Mr Connors, 45, was murdered at his isolated and newly-built bungalow in Boherboy, in the Saggart area of south-west Dublin, at around 11pm.
The killer entered through a door that was left open and searched for Mr Connors. He found him in his bedroom and fired a number of shots from a handgun, hitting him several times in the upper body.
His wife, Anne, rang 999 in a highly distressed state.
Four of their children and a niece — ranging in ages from eight to 15 — were in the house and witnessed the aftermath of the shooting.
The killer, who was wearing a balaclava, fled, but gardaí do not yet know how. They suspect there was at least one other person, a driver, involved.
This brings to 12 the number of gun murders so far this year.
Gardaí are investigating a number of possible motives. One is that he had associations with dissident republicans, such as the INLA.
Gardaí have also appealed to members of the Travelling community who know of any incident involving Mr Connors, a settled Traveller.
Sources said Mr Connors, who had at least 20 serious criminal convictions, would have built up many enemies through his criminality over the years.
He was a senior member of the Pale Miley Connors gang, which has been investigated by gardaí in relation to organised burglaries across the country. CAB seized almost €1m from the gang in January 2013.
