A murder inquiry has begun after the fatal shooting of a man in Bray, Co Wicklow, last night.
Vincent O'Brien (53) was shot a number of times in the head and body at a house in Kilbride Grove at around 10.30pm.
It's a tight knit community. To have a neighbour like this shot in cold blood, it's just very traumatising for everyone
Sinn Fein town councillor John BradyHe was taken to Loughlinstown Hospital in Co Dublin and died there shortly after 11pm. A postmortem will take place tomorrow, gardaí said this evening.
Gardaí believe Mr O'Brien was shot by a lone gunman but they have yet to establish whether the attacker broke into the house or was let in by his target.
The area has been sealed off pending a Garda technical examination. Detectives are appealing to anybody who saw any unusual or suspicious activity in the Kilbride Lane, Boghall Road and Killarney Road areas between 10pm and 10.40pm to contact them.
They are also want to speak to any taxi drivers who were in the area during these times.
Detectives are understood to be following a number of lines of inquiry, including a possible link to a heroin dealer whose body was found outside his burning caravan on Greystones beach in 1999. A Garda spokesman said the victim was known to gardaí.
They are also investigating the possibility the murder may be related to an ongoing feud in Bray.
Sinn Féin town councillor John Brady, who also lives in the estate, said all the neighbours were traumatised by what had happened.
"We have a very active residents association and people take pride in the estate. It's a tight knit community. To have a neighbour like this shot in cold blood, it's just very traumatising for everyone," he said.
"Some of the older youths were out and about on their bikes and theycertainly witnessed the flash from the gun being fired and they witnessed the guy making his way off on foot," he said.
"He was wearing a white baseball hat and they said he was carrying a white plastic bag, whether the weapon was concealed in the bag or something like that."
Additional reporting: PA