FORENSIC tests are underway on the burnt-out getaway car used in the county's latest gangland killing as detectives search for the driver and gunman responsible for a shooting on Friday night.

At 8.30pm, a man of thin build in his early 20s approach­ed David Thomas (42) of Cloonlara Crescent, Finglas, as he stood outside The Drake Inn pub on Finglas Main Street and shot him at least twice in the head with a handgun.

The gunman, who was between 5ft 7in and 5ft 9in and wearing a scarf that partially covered his face, then ran from the scene past AIB and jumped into a waiting car.

The dark blue Opel Astra was later found burnt-out at Glasmeen Court, five minutes from Finglas village. The gunmen and the getaway driver were spotted running from the scene in the direction of Johnstown Park, according to gardaí, who are studying CCTV footage in the area.

At a press conference in Finglas, gardaí appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. "We are asking for people to come forward in confidence... A lot of people would have been in Finglas village at the time, including a lot of taxi drivers... We are appealing for anyone in Finglas who may have seen the suspect or the car at Glasmeen Court to come forward," superintendent John Gilligan said.

Eleven years ago at the Central Criminal Court, Thomas was cleared of the murder of Ballymun man Eamon O'Reilly in another Finglas pub. Detectives are exploring whether his murder could have been retaliation from Ballymun criminals but stressed the investigation was at an early stage.