Gardaí are appealing for witnesses after a six-year-old boy was shot in the neck in Dublin last night.

The incident happened at Croftwood Gardens housing estate in Ballyfermot at around 10 o'clock.

The young boy -is in a serious but stable condition in hospital- and is being treated at Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin.

Gardai say they do not believe the child was the intended target of the shooting and gardai say they are following a definite line of enquiry.

A family liaison officer has been appointed to the family.