Updated: 13.50

Gardaí have found a gun and a partially burnt out car close to the scene of a shooting in Stamullen in Co Meath.

The victim, a Dublin man aged in his 30s, is in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

The shooting on Thursday night is not related to the ongoing Hutch-Kinahan feud and it is believed it may be a personal dispute.

Gardaí have described it as a despicable act on an innocent man and say it is lucky no children were caught up in the cross fire.

At around 7.00pm the victim was returning home to the Mill Close estate when another car pulled up beside him.

A gunman wearing a balaclava jumped out and fire a number of shots. The gunman sped away in a car driven by someone else.

Gardaí near the scene of the shooting in Stamullen | Image: Stephanie Grogan

A partially burnt out car with a gun inside has been found close to the scene of the shooting on the Bellewstown Road.

Superintendent Jim Gannon from Ashbourne garda station is trying to track its movements before the shooting.

He has also condemned the shooting, particularly as it happened while young children were out playing.

"This car is a blue, Seat Leon ST, which is an estate version and the number plate it was bearing at the time - which is '151-DL'.

"It is very clear that gunman in this case had no regard whatsoever to the safety of the residents of the area.

"It's an easy thing to target an innocent man when he's... getting out of his car and just to fire shots, which endangers the public".

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ashbourne garda station.