An investigation is underway after a man was shot dead in his car in front of his wife in Dublin on Wednesday evening.

Darren Kearns, who was known to gardai, was shot dead in the car park of Comiskey's Pub on Blackhorse Avenue in Dublin.

A light colour 5 series BMW was found burnt out a short distance away on a lane off Regal Park.

Gardai say there may have been witnesses and are appealing to anyone who may have been in the area between 4pm and 6pm to come forward.

Meanwhile, Inspector Tony Twomey from Cabra Garda Station says the victim's partner was lucky to escape uninjured: