Gardai investigating the fatal shooting of a publican in Dundalk were last night understood to be following a definite line of inquiry.
It was the second attempt on the life of Mr Stephen Connolly (26), of Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, who lived in Jones borough, Co Armagh. On March 30th, an armed and masked gang tried to bundle him into a van after he had closed his pub. The gang failed and two shots were fired in Mr Connolly's direction, but he escaped unharmed.
Five people were arrested in the town over that attack but were released without charge.
A family member yesterday said Mr Connolly had put his pub, the Carlton, up for sale after the earlier attack. It is understood the pub has been closed for almost six weeks. A post-mortem took place last night and it was expected to confirm Mr Connolly died from two shots to the chest. Gardai believe a lone gunman carried out the attack, which has the hallmarks of a professional hit.
Mr Connolly had been socialising in the town on Thursday night and had parked his car on Park Street, in the town centre. Just before 4 a.m. he sat into the car of a former girlfriend parked beside his. Gardai believe that almost immediately the gunman approached and a shot was fired through the passenger seat window. A Garda source said it appeared there were no witnesses of "any great significance".
Mr Connolly managed to get out of the car and run away from his attacker but was shot again. He staggered across the road, falling in front of a Garda patrol car. The car stopped just feet from Mr Connolly and an ambulance was called. He died a short time later in Louth County Hospital, Dundalk.