Gardaí in Limerick are treating the discovery of a man's body this morning in the Southill part of the city as murder and have stepped up patrols in the area in order to keep prevent further violence overnight.
Gardai have refused to release the identity of the man ahead of his family being informed but have confirmed that he was known to them.
The body was discovered at Barry's field by men working on a motorway project at around 10.30 a.m.
The victim thought in his mid 20s is understood to have sustained a gunshot wound to the head after being bound and gagged.
Gardaí have refused to comment on whether the killing is linked to the feuding among crime families in the city.
The scene has been examined by garda technical experts and a post mortem is being carried out by the State pathologist.
The mayor of Limerick, Cllr Dick Sadlier, described the killing as senseless.
