A man in his 30s has been shot dead in Clonsilla in west Dublin this evening.

The man was shot in the head outside his house at Blakestown Cottages at around 6.50pm.

He was locking his car when the gunman ran up and fired a number of shots at him.

The scene has been sealed off pending a Garda forensic examination and the State Pathologist has been informed.

Gardaí are treating the death as a gangland murder.

The victim was known to gardaí and had a number of convictions.

It is believed he was also formally warned recently by gardaí that his life was in danger.

The man's body remains at the scene.

A burned out car has been found nearby in Clonee, Co Meath.

Gardaí have said it is too early to identify a motive for the attack but there are a number of lines of inquiry.

They say it could be connected to ongoing criminal local feuds in Blanchardstown and Finglas.

They are also looking at the possibility that the shooting could be connected to the ongoing Hutch-Kinahan feud, as the hitman Imre Arakas, who was contracted by the Kinahans to kill a Hutch associate, was brought to a house in Blakestown Cottages when he arrived in Ireland last year.

Gardaí have appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to contact them at Blanchardstown Garda Station on 01 6667000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or at any garda station.