Gardaí are carrying out technical examinations on a burned-out vehicle believed to be the getaway car found after a man was shot dead outside his home.

At about 7.30pm on Saturday, Stephen “Dougie” Moran (46), originally from Limerick but living in Earlsfort View, Lucan, for a number of years, pulled into his driveway and was making his way into his home when he was shot a number of times.

It is understood that Mr Moran, believed to be an associate of convicted drug dealer John Gilligan – who survived an attempt on his own life two weeks ago, was not wearing a bullet-proof vest.

Mr Moran, a businessman who owned a security company, was also known to gardaí.

According to Garda sources he was immersed in serious crime and, in recent times, had provided protection to Mr Gilligan. It is understood he was also a target of the Criminal Assets Bureau.

The scene of the shooting and the area in which the burned-out car was discovered remained sealed off for forensic investigation. Gardaí were also examining CCTV footage from the house.

A postmortem examination, being carried out by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster, has been carried out.

At Lucan Garda station on Sunday, Garda Supt Dave Taylor said an incident room had been established. He said gardaí received a call at 7.30pm on Saturday alerting them to the incident at Earlsfort View in Lucan.

When they arrived they found the man with “obvious gunshot wounds” in the front garden of the house. Mr Moran was removed to Tallaght hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after 8pm.

“Gardaí are appealing to any person or persons who may have seen any suspicious or unusual activity at Earlsfort View between 6pm and 7.30pm yesterday,” Supt Taylor said.

“We are also appealing to any person who may have seen any car leave the scene,” adding that the car may have been driven in an “erratic or dangerous manner”.

He noted the location of the incident was close to Balgaddy Road in Lucan and directly opposite Ballyowen Park, a popular green area in the locality.

“It was very close last night to the end of the [France versus Ireland rugby] match, so there would have been a lot of traffic moving at that stage, so we are asking people, did you see a car moving from that area, Balgaddy Road, over towards Glen Vale, driving very erratically at the time?”

Garda Supt Taylor added that what witnesses may have put down to bad driving may now prove important in the investigation.

A short time after the shooting, gardaí received a report of a car burned out in a cul-de-sac at Glen Vale, Lucan. However, due to the extensive nature of the fire, they were not in a position to confirm the make or registration of the vehicle. Technical examinations continued.

Garda Supt Taylor also noted that a walkway connected Glen Vale Park to Ballyowen Road and asked drivers who may have been on the road at about 7pm yesterday to alert gardaí if they saw anyone emerging from the walkway and getting into another car.

He said a number of people had already come forward with information and he asked others to contact Lucan Garda station on 01-666 7300 or the Garda confidential line, on 1800 666111.