The detective investigating the murder of a 27-year-old man in north Dublin last night has made a thinly veiled appeal to people involved in, or close to, gangland activity to come forward with information.
Speaking to the media this afternoon, Chief Superintendent Peter Maguire said he believed there were people who had "indispensable" information relating to the murder outside the Yacht pub on the Clontarf Road at 10.30 pm.
He promised anyone coming forward with relevant information "the maximum confidentiality and the maximum security will be offered to them by the Garda Siochana and by the forces and institutions of the State".
"We know that there are a number of people out there in the community who are in possession of critical information that is indispensable to the success of this investigation who have not come forward, maybe for a variety of reasons.
"Maybe because they are not sure that they can speak to the Garda Siochana in confidence. Maybe they are not aware of the procedures and processes that are available to the Garda Siochana for dealing with this type of witness and this type of witness and this type of information," Chief Supt Maguire said.
He said the conflict should be resolved by the Garda and the institutions of the State. He guaranteed anyone with information about last night or other gangland killings would be protected.
Gardaí are investigating whether the killing is linked to the murder of two people in the south west of the city on Sunday. It is understood the dead man was related to a previous victim of gang feuding.
He was found by gardai slumped in the passenger seat of a Ford Mondeo car. He had sustained "three or four" gunshot wounds fired from a motorcycle or car in the bus lane, Superintendent Nicholas Conneely said.
Gardaí are seeking a second man who escaped on foot after shots were fired into the car he was driving. Chief Supt Peter Maguire said: "We don't know if the driver of the car was hit. We're very anxious to speak to him at the moment."
The investigation is also focusing on a Peugeot 307 car abandoned in Furry Park in nearby Killester just four minutes after the killing. Witnesses say two men fled across a park after leaving the vehicle which was stolen two weeks ago.
The car may be important to the investigation, Chief Supt Peter Maguire said. "We're very anxious to trace the origins of this car, we're very anxious to hear from anyone who saw this car in the area before the incident and anyone that saw the incident taking place."
A Garda helicopter and dog teams were involved in searches of the area last night after the man who escaped attempted to gain access to homes.
Local representatives have called on people in the area to assist gardai by providing any information they thin might be relevant.
The crime scene was still being investigated this afternoon and searches were ongoing. The victim's body has been taken to the City Morgue for post mortem.