The man, named locally as Wayne Zambra, was shot dead as he sat in a Honda jeep on Cameron St, off Cork St, Dublin 8. The victim was sitting in the vehicle with three other men when a gunman approached and opened fire on the group. One of the passengers received gunshot wounds to the leg, while two others escaped unharmed.

Zambra was known to gardai and had previously been jailed in relation to a stabbing incident outside a Dublin-city pub. Gardai believe the murder is linked to a feud in the Drimnagh area of the city, which had claimed up to seven lives before yesterday's attack.

The two unharmed passengers were arrested for questioning by gardai. Detectives have asked for anyone who saw a silver-coloured car driving in the area at the time to come forward.

The shooting brings to five the number of people killed in Ireland in the past week. Zambra was killed just around the corner from where the body of 80-year-old Vincent Plunkett was discovered on Monday.

The convicted stalker died from stab wounds at his home in Robinson Court, Cork St.

On Tuesday, gardai in Cork launched a murder investigation after the body of Charles Wrench (42) was discovered at his home in Millstreet. Wrench died from gunshot wounds.

On Wednesday, Eddie Joe Clancy (50) was found dead in Tralee, Co Kerry. He had been living rough and was viciously assaulted at 1.30am on Bridge St in the town centre. He died as a result of head injuries.

Gregory Rowan (44) became the week's fourth homicide victim when he was fatally beaten outside a party in a flat on Sillogue Road, Ballymun. It is believed he was assaulted by at least two men.