Gardai have named the man shot dead in Dublin last night as Kenneth Byrne, 30, from St Theresa's Gardens in the city.
Byrne had recently been released from jail. He was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in 2000 for his involvement in a series of armed robberies worth more than IR£70,000 (€56,000).
The dead man was reportedly a member of the so-called Umbrella Gang, who used umbrellas as an accessory to conceal their identities from security cameras.
Gardaí today found a gun they suspect was used in the killing. It was recovered on Clarence Mangan Road, about a quarter of a mile from the murder scene in St Theresa's Gardens, Dolphin's Barn. Detectives investigating the case believe the gunman may have dropped the weapon after a collision on Clarence Mangan Road.
Byrne was shot through the glass of his front door in St Theresa's Gardens after the gunman called to his house at around 11.30 pm. He was watching television with his sister moments before he was shot. His mother was in another room of the house at the time.
Byrne was later pronounced dead at St James's Hospital. A post-mortem is to be carried out.
Gardaí are investigating the possibility that last night's killing may be related to a recent shooting at a South Dublin pub.
The Labour Party's justice spokesman Mr Joe Costello said Byrne's murder "has all the hallmarks of a gangland execution".