Man shot dead in west Dublin

A murder inquiry has begun in Dublin after a father of two was shot as he left home for work this morning.

The man (38) died at the scene of the shooting on Cherry Orchard Avenue in Ballyfermot.

The scene of the shooting underwent a forensic examination today, and the body was removed at about 11.30am. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis conducted a postmortem this afternoon.

Gardaí believe the murder was premeditated but said the victim was not known to them. They are attempting to establish a motive for the killing.

Supt John Quirke of Ballyfermot Garda station said the man was reversing his van on to Cherry Orchard Avenue shortly before 7am when a car pulled up behind.

He was blocked off and shot a number of times through the window of the van before the vehicle pulled away.

An Opel Astra with the registration 99 CE 3047 was found burned out on Inagh Road, a few hundred metres from the scene of the shooting, at about 7am. It is understood the vehicle, which was recently stolen, was used in the attack.

Supt Quirke appealed to anyone who was in the Cherry Orchard Avenue or Inagh Road areas at about 7am or who saw the Opel Astra car to contact Ballyfermot Garda station on (01) 6667200.

Local Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh said young children would have had to pass the scene of the killing on their way to school. "It's a horrific event in a relatively quiet area," he said. "It's about 100 yards from St Ultan's national school. This will frighten a lot of people in the area.

"All the young children in the area will be aware of what has happened as they'll have to pass the cordoned-off scene - it just adds to the problems they have to deal with in their daily lives."

The Dublin South Central TD said there were many high-powered CCTV cameras locally that  may be able to help gardaí in their inquiry.