Father-of-two gunned down in front of friends

Detectives launched a murder inquiry today after a father-of-two was gunned down in front of his brother and friends.

The 32-year-old was shot outside his family home at Oakview Way in Hartstown, north Dublin, after two cars pulled into the street at around 11.30pm last night.

The attacker got out of one of the cars and approached the victim, who was talking with his brother and two friends, before opening fire twice with a shotgun.

One of the shots hit the man in the body and he died from his injuries in the early hours of this morning at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown.

Investigators trying to establish a motive for the killing said the victim was not known to have criminal links.

The two cars – one of which had pulled in further down the street just before the attack – sped off.

Superintendent Dave Dowling from Blanchardstown garda station, who is heading up the murder inquiry, has appealed for witnesses.

The scene of the shooting was sealed off ahead of a full technical examination.