Latest: Gun and burnt-out car found near scene of Meath shooting

Update 1pm: Gardaí have found a gun and a partially burnt out car close to the scene of last night’s shooting in Stamullen in Co Meath.

Gardaí have described the shooting as a despicable act on an innocent man and say it is lucky no children were caught up in the cross fire.

Superintendent Jim Gannon from Ashbourne Garda Station is trying to track its movements before the shooting.

"This car is a blue Seat Leon ST, which is an estate version. The number plate it was bearing at the time was 151 DL."

Supt Gannon has condemned the shooting – particularly as it happened while young children were out playing.

"It is very clear that the gunman in this case had no regard whatsoever as to the safety of the residents of the area. It's an easy thing to target an innocent man when he's getting out of his car and to fire shots, which endangers the public."

At around 7pm the victim was returning home to the Mill Close estate when another car pulled up beside him.

A gunman wearing a balaclava jumped out and fired a number of shots.

The gunman sped away in a car, which was driven by someone else.

A partially burnt out car with a gun inside it has been found close to the scene of the shooting on the Bellewstown Road.

The shooting is not linked to the Hutch Kinahan feud and gardai say they are working to find a motive.

One line of inquiry is that it is a personal dispute.

The victim, a Dublin man in his 30s, is in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ashbourne Garda Station.

Earlier: A shooting in County Meath last night is not believed to be part of the Kinahan - Hutch feud.

There is thought to be a gangland motive for the attack, however, which has left one man in a serious condition in hospital.

The victim, who was originally from the northside of Dublin, was shot multiple times as he sat in his car outside his home in the Mill Close housing estate in Stamullen.

Reports claim he was attacked by a lone gunman who entered the driveway of the house.

He was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have been in the area at the time to contact them at Drogheda garda station on 041 987 4200 the Garda Confidential Line, 1800 666111 or any garda station.