Man shot dead in suspected gangland attack

Gardaí were tonight investigating after a man originally from the North was shot dead in a suspected gangland killing in north Dublin.

The man in his 20s, who was well known to gardaí, was found murdered in a laneway in the Cabra area of the city near the back of Phoenix Park.

He had been shot three times in the body.

It is understood the man, who was from Derry, had been charged in relation to a shooting at a pub in Newcastle, Co Dublin last September. He had been arrested after the getaway car he was driving crashed.

The body was discovered at around lunchtime today by a passer-by. And it is understood local people heard a number of shots being fired before the body was found.

Detectives said they were investigating a number of lines of inquiry and including links to drug dealing and crime in the capital.

Officers from the the Garda Technical Bureau were called in to investigate the death and Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis has been notified and will carry out a post mortem exam later.

Gardaí appealed for anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity along Blackhorse Avenue between 7.30pm on Thursday to midday today to contact them on 01 6667400.