A man shot in the neck in a retail park is the latest victim of a gangland feud that erupted in Co Louth last year, gardaí believe.

The victim has been charged with feud-related offences and was on bail awaiting trial when he was shot on Tuesday afternoon.

One of his close associates has been unable to walk since he was wounded several times in a botched murder attempt last year.

In another incident linked to the feud between drugs gangs in Louth and Meath, a man was last year found beaten and stabbed in a bath when gardaí burst into a house after receiving a tip-off.

Gardaí in Drogheda are now braced for further violence following Tuesday’s attack.

One senior criminal on one side of the feud has been linked to three murders in recent years. The Criminal Assets Bureau is also targeting those on both sides of the dispute.

The latest attack occurred at 2.45pm on Tuesday at the M1 Retail Park, Drogheda. The victim was getting into a white Vauxhall Astra with two other men when a black 132 D VW Passat pulled alongside and shots were fired from it into the Astra.

A passenger in the Astra, a man in his 30s, was wounded in the neck. As the gunman’s car sped off the injured man was driven to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in the Astra where he remained in a serious condition on Tuesday night. The other two occupants of this vehicle were not injured.

The black Passat also drove from the scene and this car has not yet been located.

Gardaí have sealed off two crime scenes and a technical examination is underway at the M1 Retail Park and at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital where the white Astra is located. An incident room has been set up at Drogheda Garda Station.

Gardaí are asking anyone who was in the M1 Retail Park on Tuesday afternoon between 1pm and 3pm to contact them. They are also seeking information on the whereabouts of the Black Passat used in the shooting.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Drogheda Garda Station on 041 9874200.