Gardaí are investigating whether the murder of Sean McCarthy in Dublin was linked to a drugs dispute.

The 28-year-old was found dead in an apartment on Achill Road in Drumcondra on Saturday.

He had been shot a number of times and the apartment remains preserved for a technical examination.

Sean had been missing since the previous Tuesday and his remains were found shortly after Gardaí appealed to the public for information on his whereabouts.

A man in his 30s has been arrested in in connection with the discovery and is being questioned at Clontarf Garda Station, where he can be held for up to a week.

Irish Independent crime correspondent Ken Foy told Newstalk Gardaí believe the murder was linked to a drugs feud.

“Gardaí are working on theory that this fatal shooting is linked to a drugs dispute in relation to a possible debt that the victim Seán McCarthy may have owed to a criminal gang,” he said.

Social Democrats Councillor for the Ballymun Finglas area Mary Callaghan said Sean's family are devastated.

“The divers were out, there were social media campaigns, the family was very concerned, Gardaí were very concerned,” she said.

“You know, there were a lot of people out looking for him, a lot of people in shock and a family absolutely devastated.”

She said it’s been a hard few months for the community.

“There have been, sadly, a few murders in the Ballymun area in the last few months,” she said.

“It is really shocking for the community when they are just getting over the last one and really what we need for the whole Ballymun area us more Gardaí.”

Gardaí are appealing to anyone who was in the Home Farm Road area of Drumcondra between Tuesday morning and Saturday evening and noticed anything unusual to contact them.