Gardaí are said to be investigating the possibility that a fatal shooting in Cork this afternoon was a tragic accident.

A 41-year-old man died in the shooting at a house on Plunkett Road in Ballyphehane at about 4.30pm.

The man's friend, who was in the house at the time, raised the alarm.

However the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post mortem will take place at Cork University Hospital.