CORK, Ireland - The man who was shot dead in Cork has now been identified as a leading member of the Real IRA.
According to reports, the 37-year-old man was named locally as Aidan O'Driscoll, a resident of Glenheights Park, Ballyvolane, in Cork.
O'Driscoll was reportedly shot up to four times, by two men who approached him on the Old Commons Road in the Blackpool area, near his workplace and fired shots. He was shot again even as he lay injured on the ground.
Both the men are said to have escaped and later a car was found on fire on Redemption road.
Gardai said that another car was found partially burnt out at Killeens near Blarney.
Gardai detective that are investigating the case are said to have held a case conference near the crime scene at Watercourse Road Garda Station.
The motive of the shooters has not been identified so far and detectives are said to be looking closely at O'Driscoll’s involvement in dissident republican activities as the main motive.
O'Driscoll was convicted in 2005 for being a member of the Real IRA but his conviction was overturned in the Court of Criminal Appeal later.