The results of a post-mortem carried out on the body of a 26-year-old man shot dead in the Drimnagh area of Dublin were being awaited by gardaí last night.
The victim, who has been named as Mr Derek Lodge, a father of one from Kilworth Road in Drimnagh, was shot by a lone gunman at a portacabin outside Mr Lodge's family home on Kilworth Road at about 10.40 p.m. on Wednesday.
Mr Lodge was working in the portacabin when the gunman entered and discharged one or two shots before making his getaway on foot in the direction of Comeragh Road where it is believed he may have got into a waiting car. The car, an orange coloured Peugeot 206 or 306, is being sought by gardaí, as is the weapon used, believed to be a sawn-off shotgun.
A full murder hunt is under way, led by Supt John Manley of Sundrive Road Garda station. A team of more than 30 detectives, including members of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, are involved in the investigation.
Supt Manley appealed for anyone who might have been in the area of Kilworth Road between 10 and 11 p.m. on Wednesday to contact the incident room at Sundrive Road station on 01-6666600.
He described the gunman as between 5 feet 11 inches and 6 feet tall. "He was wearing a white tracksuit top or fleece or sweatshirt. He was also wearing navy or black tracksuit bottoms with two stripes running down the side," he said.
The murder scene was preserved yesterday for technical examination and the assistant state pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, began a post-mortem.
It is understood Mr Lodge, who spent most of his time working on second-hand cars, had been living away from home until recently. He was known to the gardaí as a petty criminal. At one stage he was under investigation for an assault on a garda and a man is currently facing a charge of assaulting him outside his home last month.
Gardaí say they are keeping an open mind on the killing but do not suspect drugs or gangland involvement.
Meanwhile, gardaí in Wicklow are investigating the death of a man whose body was found at Brittas Bay yesterday. The body was found by a person out for a morning stroll. Gardaí called in the State pathologist, Dr John Harbison, to carry out a post-mortem.