A post mortem examination was being carried out this morning on the remains of Peter Butterly, who was shot dead in the car park of The Huntsman Inn Gormanston yesterday afternoon.
Within minutes of the shooting, gardaí arrested five men.
Mr Butterly, a married father-of-three from Dunleer, Co Louth, was shot several times and died at the scene.
Deputy State Pathologist Dr Khalid Jabbar was conducting the post mortem at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
Four men were arrested following the shooting in a car that was intercepted close to the scene. They are all aged in their 20s. A handgun was also recovered by gardaí.
The fifth man, who is in his 40s, was arrested a short time later, also close to the pub.
Mr Butterly drove into the car park of the pub yesterday shortly after 2pm. A second car entered the car park a few minutes later. Mr Butterly was confronted by the occupants of the second car as he walked across the car park and shot a number of times.  The assailants fled the scene in a car which on leaving the car park turned left. The car was intercepted by Gardai on the Balscadden Road a short time later.
 The men are currently detained at a number of north Dublin Garda Stations under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act .
 An incident room has been established at Laytown Garda Station. A number of people have come forward to assist in this investigation and gardai are continuing to appeal for information. Gardai in particular are appealing to anybody in the vicinity of the Huntsman Inn between 1pm and 2.30pm yesterday to contact them.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Laytown Garda Station 041-9813320, or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.
 Senator Thomas Byrne has condemned the shooting.  “This attack happened in the middle of the afternoon in full view of passers-by.  It is yet another terrible example of just how brazen these criminal thugs have become and just how vulnerable our local communities feel at this time.”
He commended the local gardaí for their swift response to this awful incident. 
Sinn Féin’s Meath East by-election candidate, Darren O’Rourke has also condemned the shooting. 
“This kind of lawlessness in our community must be condemned. This shooting damages the community, makes people afraid and highlights the pressures under which gardaí are working.”