Murder hunt after pensioner gunned down

Police in Dublin are searching for clues as to why a 64-year-old woman was gunned down in her house today.

Neighbours of the mother-of-five were puzzled as to why she was targeted by masked men this morning in the upstairs bedroom of her home in Tallaght.

It is understood her husband and brother were in the house at Avonbeg Park.

Neighbours raised the alarm after her attackers were seen running away.

The shooting occurred around 6.20am.

Gardaí were on the scene within minutes but the killers had fled.

Neighbours described the victim as "a living saint".

Last night she had collected envelopes for her local church's parish lottery draw.

The state pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy was summoned to carry out a post mortem examination.

Forensics officers are also combing the scene.

Gardaí urged anyone with information to contact detectives without delay.