AN APPEAL for witnesses has been launched by Gardaí after a man was shot dead in his Dublin home.
The victim, who has been named as 55-year-old Thomas McCarthy, had recently returned home from living in England, and the nature of the attack has lead authorities to believe the murder was related to gang violence.
Mr McCarthy was gunned down in his own home in the busy residential area of Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot yesterday morning at around 11am.
It is understood that Mr McCarthy answered the front door of his home to a visitor when he was shot multiple times at close range by an unknown assailant who then fled the scene.
The emergency services were called but Mr McCarthy was sadly pronounced dead at the scene, and his body taken to the City Morgue to undergo a post mortem.
The gunman is believed to have fled the scene in a blue Ford Fiesta which travelled in the direction of Le Fanu Drive / Killeen Road-- the car was found burnt out in the area a short time later.
Gardaí are investigating the movements of a second car, a silver Skoda Octavia, which was in the area of Killeen Road and travelled to Monksfield Walk/ Monksfield Lawn and may have travelled through Parkwest or New Nangor Road to get to Woodford estate.
The silver Skoda was also found abandoned and burnt out in the Monksfield Walk area a short time later. The suspect is then believed to have left the area on foot towards the green area.
Gardaí are urgently appealing to anyone with information regarding the death of Thomas McCarthy to come forward.
Any motorist, cyclist or pedestrian who was in any of the areas mentioned between 10.30am and 11.30am yesterday morning who may have seen anything unusual or who may have dash cam footage/ phone camera footage are asked to contact Gardaí as soon as possible.
Anyone with information which could assist the investigation is asked to contact Gardaí at Ballyfermot Garda Station on 01 666 7200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 r any Garda Station.
