The clinical execution of Ciaran Keane, a father of two children, has sparked fresh fears of further bloodletting in this Limerick family feud.
His nephew and close friend, Owen Treacy, was stabbed in the attack but managed to escape to raise the alarm.
Mr Keane (35), married with two teenage children, inherited the mantle of head of his family since the imprisonment of his older brother, Christy Keane.
The elder Keane was found by detectives moving a coal sack full of drugs in the Island Field area of Limerick city and is serving a 10-year prison sentence.
Gardaí hailed his conviction as a major blow against organised crime in Limerick, but a bitter feud with the Ryan family continued to escalate even though Christy Keane was behind bars.
Ciaran Keane, a native of St Mary's Park on the northside of Limerick, moved recently to the Garryowen area of the city with his family.
He was the prime suspect in the murder of Eddie Ryan snr, who was gunned down in the Moose Bar in November 2000 while drinking after a funeral.
Eddie Ryan was the head of the family with whom the Keanes have been involved in a vicious and long-running feud that looks set to continue.
However, Ciaran Keane was never charged in relation to the gangland killing and the two gunmen who carried out the murder are still at large.
Mr Keane's nephew, Mr Treacy (33), lived in Parteen, Co Clare, on the outskirts of Limerick.
His home was badly damaged in a petrol bombing last May, in an attack connected to the family feud.
The Treacy family operate a successful bakery and confectionary business in Limerick.
Mr Treacy was in a serious condition in Limerick Regional Hospital last night, but his injuries were thought to be not life threatening.
Gardaí are anxious to interview him as he could be one of the few people with answers to this bitter and confusing family feud saga.