Gardai have named the man who was shot dead in a gun attack in Drogheda this morning as Paul Reay (25).
Mr Reay and his sister
were travelling
in a car when they were approached by a gunman, who fired at least four shots through the passenger window.
Mr Reay - a father of two from Drogheda - was pronounced dead in hospital. His sister was shot at least once in the shoulder. Her injuries are said not to be life-threatening.
Both victims were taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda after the attack at Marley's Lane, Tredagh View, shortly after 9.00am.
The attacker fled on foot and is believed to have been driven off by another man in a white saloon.
A burnt car that gardaí believe may have been involved was later found at Old Bridge. The scene has been sealed off to be examined by officers from the Garda Technical Bureau.
Gardaí have not ruled out a drugs link to the killing. Mr Reay was one of five men arrested in connection with a the seizure of cocaine worth €300,000 in Co Meath in August. He was subsequently freed on bail.
Councillor Frank Maher, deputy mayor of Drogheda, condemned the shooting and called on anyone with information to contact gardaí. "To carry out such an attack at that time of the morning in an area with three schools is beyond belief," he said. "It is sickening that this should happen in a peaceful residential area."
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell came under pressure in the Dáil this morning over the Drogheda incident and the fatal shooting of Latvian-born mother of two Baiba Saulite in Swords last weekend.
Fine Gael party leader Mr Kenny raised the latest fatal shooting but was ruled out of order by the Ceann Comhairle, Dr Rory O'Hanlon. "I understand that another man was shot dead in Drogheda this morning, which is another appalling incidence of crime," Mr Kenny began.
Mr McDowell was not permitted to comment on the matter under the procedures governing the Order of Business.
Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte also asked Mr McDowell to make a statement to the parliament on the killing of Ms Saulite. It is understood Ms Saulite had told her friends and neighbours that she was concerned for her safety, but gardaí insisted they were not aware of any specific threat to her life.
"Can I ask the Minister if he intends to come into the House to make a statement on the case and the many disquieting factors that appear to surround it?" asked Mr Rabbitte.
In reply, Mr McDowell told the Dáil he could not comment on an ongoing Garda investigation.
Gardai in Drogheada have appealed for members of the public who were in the Marleys Lane and Old Bridge area between 7.30am and 9.30 am this morning or anyone who may have seen a White Mazda (reg 95 WW 353 false plates) in the vicinity, or any sighting of the car in the Drogheda area in the last few days to contact the Incident room in Drogheda at 041 9874200 or the Garda Confidential Line at 1 800 666 111 or any Garda Station.