Mark Desmond was shot up to four times in the head during a gangland gun attack in Lucan, Dublin, last night. 

The murder occurred at Griffeen Valley Park at around 8pm.

A burnt-out car containing a hand gun was also found close to the scene, but it has not yet been proven whether the two incidents are related.

Gardaí are investigating if two criminal brothers who are based in the area are behind the attack, sources told the Independent. 

Desmond was well known to Gardaí as an extremely violent and unstable individual.

He has previous convictions for violent crime and possession of firearms offences.

He was also questioned previously about the rape of a 15-year-old boy, and he was a suspected of murdering two men and dumping their bodies in the Grand Canal in 2000.