A MAN shot and killed in Co. Meath is believed to be the latest victim in a violent gang feud which has been raging for more than a year.
The 39-year-old, who hasn't been named, was attacked in the seaside village of Bettystown around 11.30pm on Monday night.
He was shot in the back and in the arm and collapsed on the roadside outside his home on Castlemartin Drive, according to the Irish Independent.
Emergency services were called to the scene and the victim was taken by ambulance to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda but he was pronounced dead at around 1am.
Gardai were aware that the man had links to gang warfare and it's believed that another attempt on his life was made last year.
A van, believed to have been the getaway vehicle, was found in flames around 1km away from the where the shooting took place on Eastham Road.
Today the scene of the shooting and the location of the burned out van remained sealed off by gardai pending a forensic examination by members of the garda technical bureau.
The feud between the rivals gangs has been monitored over the last year or two and instances off violence have stretched from Dublin to Co. Louth and are seemingly becoming more frequent.
Gardai are urging anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have information to contact the incident room at Ashbourne Garda Station on 01-801 0600, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
