The 23-year-old was shot dead after two men forced their way into his home on Lealand Road, Clondalkin, Dublin on Wednesday night.

Dowdall, who had no previous convictions, was watching TV with his girlfriend, Debbie Quinn, at their home when two armed and masked men called to the house. When the victim's partner answered the door, the men pushed past her and fired two shots from a shotgun, hitting Dowdall in the head. Both attackers fled the scene on foot. Dowdall, who worked as a printer, was pronounced dead at the scene a short time after the attack.

Gardaí said there was no indication that the dead man was in fear of any anticipated attack, as he had not taken any obvious steps to protect himself against an attempted assassination. Gardaí have appealed for anyone who may have seen anything suspicious around Lealand Road or the Deansrath or Cuthbert's Park area around the time of the killing to contact them.

Meanwhile, stabbing victim Michael Gallagher was buried in his home town of Mohill, Co Leitrim yesterday. Gardaí believe Gallagher (60) may have been the victim of mistaken identity, when he was attacked and stabbed to death by two men who forced their way into the Tallaght home he shared with his girlfriend a fortnight ago.

His partner was also injured in the incident but is recovering under medical care.