Ratoath shooting victim dies

Gardai have confirmed that a man in his 50s has been pronounced dead at the scene of tonight's shooting in Ratoath.

The scene has been preserved for a technical examination by the Garda Technical Bureau and Dr Michael Curtis from the State Pathologists Office has attended the scene. The body remains at the scene.

A post mortem is scheduled to take place tomorrow at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.

Gardai wish to renew their appeal for witnesses who may have been in and around The Old Mill housing estate in Ratoath, or the Fairyhouse Road this evening and who may have seen anything unusual or suspicious to contact Ashbourne Garda Station on 01-8010600, The Garda Confidential Telephone Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

Cllr Damien O'Reilly, a Fianna Fail councillor in the Ratoath Municipal District, said: 'The whole community is very shocked by this murder. We are shocked that inner city gangland violence appears to have spread to this suburban area of County Meath. It is appalling that a life has been taken in this way in Ratoath.

'This is an extremely quiet village with a well-settled community, It's terrible. The shooting took place in an estate which has a large amount of children,' he said.