Eddie Hutch Snr, pictured left, was reportedly shot nine times when four gunman burst into his home in Dublin. His death is said to be part of a gangland feud in the Irish capital

Irish capital Dublin is braced for all-out gang warfare after the city's tit-for-tat murder spree spiralled out of control with another brutal gun killing.

A brother of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch was shot dead in retaliation for the bloodbath at the city's Regency Hotel on Friday, in which gangster David Byrne was murdered ahead of a boxing match.

The four-man hit on Eddie Hutch Snr was ordered by the Kinahan crime cartel, to which Byrne was affiliated.

Father-of-five Hutch, in his late 50s, was reportedly shot nine times as he prepared to leave his home in the North Strand, Dublin 3, to go to the pub just before 8pm.

It is the third murder in the escalating feud - and came despite a massive police (Garda) presence on the streets.

Police chiefs have now ordered roadblocks be put in place and have increased surveillance on high-profile targets amid fears of further violence.

A prominent member of the Kinahan gang, 'Fat' Freddie Thompson, was reportedly arrested last night following a high-speed chase through the city. He was later released pending inquiries.

Thompson, a cousin of David Byrne, is believed to have recently returned to Ireland from Amsterdam, where he went after his release from a jail sentence for a pub brawl.

An elite Garda unit armed with high-powered weapons is being permanently set up in the city in the wake of the gangland bloodshed.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald signalled a green light for the new dedicated response team today and armed police were seen on the streets this afternoon.

A policy similar to that used to rein in feuding gangsters in Limerick in recent years will also be deployed in the capital amid growing fears of a murder frenzy.

The Kinahan crime cartel, which has its headquarters in Spain, sparked the feud by shooting dead Gary Hutch last year.

The Regency Hotel shooting was in revenge for this killing, and was blamed on the Hutch gang.

In return, the Kinahans chose to target the Hutch family.

Last night, four masked men burst into Eddie Hutch's home in Poplar Row and shot him dead in his hallway at 7.45pm.

Irish police (Gardai) pictured at the scene of the fatal shooting in Dublin tonight, where Eddie Hutch Snr is believed to have been killed in revenge for last Friday's attack on the Regency Hotel

Police forensics officers removed Mr Hutch's body this morning after the shooting last night

Police say at least four gunmen broke into the Dublin home of Mr Hutch and fatally shot the 59-year-old

It is understood Mr Hutch senior was shot nine times in the head and upper body.

The four men had pulled up in a Volkswagen Passat outside the house and kicked in his front door. They shot him dead in the hallway as he was about to leave.

Senior sources say that other members of the victim's family had been encouraging him to move to a safe house because of fears of reprisals in the feud.

However, as he was not considered by gardaí to be a serious or active criminal, he had not left his home, which he shares with his partner Margaret.

He has some convictions, including fraud offences, but gardaí believe he was a 'soft target' and 'easy to get at'. It was for this reason that he was targeted by Kinahan cartel.

A source said: 'He was shot dead by members of the Kinahan gang, undoubtedly. They didn't care which Hutch they shot dead, they just wanted to get one of them.

'They wanted a Hutch scalp and any Hutch would do. The Monk or the victim's son, Eddie Hutch Jnr, would have been much harder to get as they have heightened security around them.

'But Eddie Snr wouldn't have been as concerned for his safety, because he essentially was not involved in this feud and was not involved in criminality.'

Victim Eddie Hutch Senior, pictured (left) with his son Ross, was targeted in the tit-for-tat violencePictured right is his gangster brother Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch

'Fat' Freddie Thompson (right) - a friend of David Byrne (left), who was killed in the boxing weigh-in shooting on Friday - was questioned by police last night

A Volkswagen Passat, believed to be the getaway car, was found at a nearby location, sources say. A container of petrol was found inside but it was not set alight.

Police say they have identified most of those involved in Friday's attack but have made no arrests, in part because they suspect the attackers have fled Ireland.

Another of Hutch's relatives currently behind bars, Derek 'Del Boy' Hutch, was been moved to a secure wing of prison to deter assassins. He was convicted in 2010 of stabbing a man to death and attempted armed robbery.

CONTINUITY IRA CLAIM 'IS NONSENSE', SAY POLICE Gardai, the Irish police force, have dismissed as 'opportunistic nonsense' claims by the Continuity IRA that they were behind Friday afternoon's shooting spree at the Regency Hotel in Drumcondra. Senior gardaí attended a meeting at Ballymun station yesterday to discuss the gangland atrocity which saw one criminal - David Byrne - murdered and two of his friends injured. In a phone call to the BBC in Belfast, the Continuity IRA said they ordered the killing of Byrne using a four-man gang, some armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles. The dissident republican group claim Byrne was singled out on Friday as a reprisal for the killing of Real IRA leader Alan Ryan in Dublin in September 2012. But security sources say they are do not believe this claim, given that Byrne - a senior member of the Christy Kinahan crime cartel - is not linked in any way to Alan Ryan's murder. Security sources say that they will fully investigate the claims by the Continuity IRA, as they must follow up on every aspect of this investigation. Advertisement

Just five days ago, David Byrne, 34, from Crumlin, was shot dead in the Regency Hotel attack.

He had been a key Dublin-based member of the Christy Kinahan cartel for a number of years and was considered a serious criminal.

Two of his close friends were also shot in the daylight attack and were lucky to survive.

Gardaí believe Byrne was shot dead by members of the Hutch crime gang.

The hotel shooting was direct retaliation against the Kinahan crime syndicate from associates of murdered criminal Gary Hutch, shot dead in Spain last year by Kinahan gang members.

The leader of the Catholic Church, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, today called on 'mothers and grandmothers' of those involved to tell them to step back from the spiral of violence.

'The perpetrators are not idols or stars or heroes,' said Archbishop Martin.

'They are criminals who threaten not just public order but democracy and the rule of law and who have no care for anything except their own criminal interests.

'All of us have to remind them they are not untouchable.'

The first murder was claimed by a group purporting to be the Continuity IRA, a dissident republican splinter faction, but that drew scepticism from detectives immersed in gangland investigations.

The first claim of responsibility - attributed to dissident republicans and made with a code word to the BBC in Belfast - drew scepticism from seasoned commentators in Dublin while the top brass in the Garda said they were keeping an open mind and pointed to a 'criminal' element.

In a second statement, issued to the Irish Daily Mirror hours later and again purportedly from the Continuity IRA, dissident republicans dismissed the first claim as bogus.

Armed police were seen on the streets of Dublin today as officials sought to bring an end to the killings

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said: 'The gardai will have every resource that they need in order to have the kind of armed response that is necessary'

Roadblocks have been set up in parts of the city and a jailed relative of a victim has been moved for his safety

'The Continuity IRA wish to make it clear that we did not have any involvement in Friday's shooting at the Regency Hotel,' the second statement said.

'We have absolutely no involvement in criminal feuds. We see the false claim that the CIRA were involved in this act as another attempt to tarnish the name of the organisation.'

Gary Hutch was a nephew of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch and also a nephew of Eddie Hutch Snr, murdered last night.

Locals on Poplar Row in North Strand told the Irish Daily Mail that they heard shots fired before 8pm.

One woman who lives at the block of flats said: 'I heard all the sirens and came out to see what was happening. There was a swarm of Garda cars and ambulance crew.

'The man is known locally as 'Neddy' and he drove a taxi. With everything that went on last weekend we thought he'd cleared out but he came back tonight to collect something we heard,' said the woman.

'My kids often play outside that apartment so it's terrifying to think a group of gunmen burst into that apartment and gunned Neddy down.'

Both of the shootings took place in the north of the Irish capital, just a couple of miles apart

Flowers have been placed at the Regency hotel where a man was killed and two were injured on Friday

Family of victim Mr Byrne wrote tributes on notes with flowers after the killing during a boxing weigh-in

Two executioners dressed in SWAT-style police clothes are pictured storming the Regency Hotel in Dublin, where they shot dead gangster David Byrne (right) and injured two of his associates

Another local man added: 'The gardaí need to step up here, there's small children living in this road and any innocent child could have been injured.'

The getaway car was found in nearby St Patrick's Parade. The gang, in a panic to leave the scene, appear to have forgotten to burn it out.

Gardaí are hopeful of finding key forensic clues left behind. The murder victim's son - Eddie Jnr - is well known to gardaí.

Eddie Jnr, who has 189 previous convictions for crimes including theft and car break-ins, walked away from Winning Streak with €33,000 in cash and prizes after his younger brother appeared for him on the RTÉ show last September.

Former Dublin Lord Mayor Councillor Christy Burke said the community is in a state of shock after last night's shooting.

'I called for calm and no retaliations. This is going to add more misery to a community already struggling with crime. We are in shock,' said Mr Burke.

One of the boxers, pictured, was in the middle of his weigh-in in Dublin just as the gunmen opened fire

Amid chaotic scenes, the boxer and audience members fled through an emergency exit to flee the gunmen

Just two and a half hours before the murder, gardaí from across the six Dublin districts held a meeting at Ballymun Garda station to discuss how to contain the escalating feud.

Officers from each division had to submit a policing plan to contain the bloodshed in terms of monitoring the criminals involved and containing the violence.

Senior officers from the five other Garda divisions also agreed to provide a unmarked Garda car to Ballymun - because of lack of vehicles to monitor the escalating feud.

'But it was all obviously too little, too late. As senior gardaí sat in the meeting, a murder plot was being hatched and it couldn't be stopped,' said a source.

Gardaí are appealing for anyone who was in the area or may have information, to contact them at Fitzgibbon Garda Station on 01 666 8400, the Garda Confidential Line 1800-666-111 or any Garda Station.

Claims that the Continuity IRA were responsible for the Regency Hotel shooting have been disregarded in the wake of last night's murder.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said the attack was 'deplorable' and would be meeting senior Gardai officials tomorrow

In a tweet, pictured, he called for the culprits to be 'taken off the streets'

Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan is expected to meet Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald today to discuss the murder.

Ms Fitzgerald said last night: 'Tonight's fatal shooting in Dublin is another deplorable example of the ruthlessness of gangland criminals.

'It seems that some gangs are intent on waging a feud where human life counts for nothing.

'The gardaí will take all necessary steps to try to prevent further bloodshed but we have to recognise the challenges they face.'

Kingpins in a long-running and bloody feud: Who's who in the gang war tearing Dublin apart?

THE KINAHAN CRIME CARTEL Christy Kinahan Originally from St Teresa's Gardens in Dublin's south inner city, the 'Dapper Don' now lives in a £4.5million villa in Spain's Costa del Sol where he is head of one of the biggest wholesale drug businesses supplying narcotics into both Ireland and the UK. Kinahan, speaks several foreign languages, including Dutch and Spanish, and has managed to avoid arrest despite massive police surveillance. Daniel Kinahan The eldest son of Christy, Daniel is believed to have inherited much of the day-to-day running of the Kinahan empire from his father Christy. He lives along with his father in the Costa del Sol, where he is also a boxing promoter, and it was in that role that he returned to Dublin for last Friday's ill-fated weigh-in at the Regency Hotel. He escaped through a window with a minder when the shooting started. Fat Freddie Thompson A well-known member of the Kinahan cartel, he is a cousin of David Byrne who was shot on Friday. Thompson has many convictions and was sentenced to 20 months last year for his part in a pub brawl. Despite reports that he had fallen out with the Kinahans, he is believed to have returned to work for them since his release. Liam Byrne A brother of murder victim David Byrne, he is believed to be one of the Kinahans' key henchman who plays a role in their drug business. He is reported to have been involved in sending arms into Ireland and was questioned by UK police in 2012, along with Thompson. However, they were never charged. He has convictions for firearms offences and assault. Paul Rice Another Kinahan henchman and feared career criminal. He was jailed for ten years in 1995 for armed robbery of a bank. Astonishingly, he escaped on horseback after the raid. Advertisement

GERRY HUTCH'S ASSOCIATES Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch Famously nicknamed 'The Monk', this former criminal is from Dublin's north inner city, he is believed to have been deeply involved in two of the biggest armed robberies in the history of the State, which he denies. A brother of Eddie Hutch who was murdered last night, he is an uncle to Gary Hutch, whose murder in Spain last September kick started the recent spate of bloodletting. Eddie Hutch senior Last night's murder victim was a brother of The Monk, and also an uncle to the late Gary Hutch. He is believed to have had very little involvement in crime. His death indicates how desperate the rival faction were to gain revenge against anyone connected to the Hutch family. Eddie Hutch junior A son of last night's victim, Edward has a series of convictions, including for theft and motoring offences. He came to national prominence last year when he won a place on RTÉ's Winning Streak. His brother Ross took his place, easing the potential for embarrassment for the national broadcaster. He won €8,000 in cash and a car worth €25,000. Derek 'Del Boy' Hutch Another nephew of the Monk, he is currently serving a 16-year sentence for his role in cash van robbery. He was attacked in October of last year by two inmates who are believed to have slashed him on the arm with a shiv. In 2011, he also got a six-year term with four suspended for the manslaughter of Alan Donoghue, who was stabbed by Del Boy and an accomplice on St Stephen's Day 2007 in Co. Meath. Advertisement

Boxing referee reveals chilling moment two men dressed as Gardai and armed with AK47s stared him in the eye before shooting another man dead at the weigh-in

A veteran boxing referee who was officiating at a weigh-in in Dublin when gunmen burst in and shot dead a gangster has told of his terror.

Mickey Vann was due to referee the fight between Irish boxer Jamie Kavanagh and Portuguese Antonio Joao Bento on Saturday night.

But the weigh-in for the fight, held in a Dublin hotel on Friday, turned into a murder scene after a team of gunmen, two dressed as police swat team members and another dressed as a woman killed alleged drug dealer David Byrne.

Mickey Vann (centre, in 2001) was officiating at the weigh-in on Friday where David Byrne was shot dead

The shocking scene was witnessed by British boxing referee Mickey Vann, who revealed he stared into the eyes of one of the killers.

Mr Vann, 72, told the Yorkshire Post: 'Two of them came in carrying Kalashnikovs. They had scarves round their faces, but they were dressed as Gardai. They walked in very slowly, with their rifles pointed down. They were looking at people on the floor, then one of them looked at me.

'I looked down, then they spotted a guy in a grey tracksuit standing four or five feet from me, lifted their rifles and shot him. There were two or three shots, really loud, then they just walked off.'

Mr Vann gave a statement to police before flying back to Britain when the boxing matches were cancelled.

The body of David Byrne lies slumped against the hotel reception desk after he was gunned down during the boxing weigh-in in Dublin on Friday

Two other men, who remain in hospital, were seriously injured by the four-strong gang, three of whom were armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles.

Another witness told the Irish Independent that two gunmen entered the building and began shooting - while another two, including the man dressed as a woman - cornered those fleeing on the steps outside.

The witness explained: 'I heard a man dressed as a woman say 'he's not f****** here, I can't find him.' He was wearing a long blonde wig.

'The other guy roared back 'get the f*** out of here' just as the other two came out the front door and came out past me and went down to the silver transit van and they all bundled into this van.'

Gardai Chief Superintendent Barry O'Brien said it was a 'particularly nasty incident' that had involved 'severe weapons'.