The 25-year-old man shot dead in Clondalkin on Friday night was involved in a long-running drugs feud and had recently been released from prison.

Pierce Reid (25), from Lealand Close in Clondalkin, had numerous previous convictions for relatively minor offences. He had recently been charged with the serious assault of a bouncer at a pub in Clondalkin and had been on remand until recent weeks as gardaí objected to bail.

He was a close associate of Karl Breen, who was jailed in 2007 for the manslaughter of his friend. Gardaí say Reid was a serious criminal and his murder has been linked to an ongoing row between rival drug gangs in Clondalkin that has claimed several lives.

Detectives are confident of "prompt arrests" in the murder probe and have identified several suspects who are involved in the feud. Those responsible fled the scene in a silver BMW, which was later found nearby at Lindisfarne Park where an attempt had been made to set the car on fire. Forensic tests are ongoing on the vehicle and gardaí are hopeful it will provide them with vital evidence.

Reid was shot several times in the head outside his house on Lealand Close just after 10pm on Friday. In retaliation, his associates fired several shots into a house in another part of the Lealand Estate four hours later.

No one was injured in that attack. Unarmed gardaí tackled the two men – one who was brandishing a shotgun – arrested them and took them into custody. It is likely they will be charged tomorrow.

Reid was rushed to Tallaght hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later. His other convictions include public order, road traffic offences, and drunk and disorderly.

He was also convicted of possession of a firearm in 2004 and was fined €50, meaning the weapon was most likely an air rifle of some sort.