A man who was shot dead in Malta after claiming to have killed his ex-partner is believed to have travelled to Ireland in recent weeks.

Edward William Johnston, a 50-year-old from Ireland, was the chief suspect in the killing of Maltese native Nicolette Ghirxi.

The 48-year-old woman was found dead in Birkirkara before armed police killed Mr Johnston.

Ireland trip

Times of Malta journalist Mark Laurence Zammit said police suspect Mr Johnston may have only returned to Malta in recent days.

“They knew that he had recently been spending some time in Ireland,” he told Newstalk.

“Last Thursday, the police say Nicolette went back to them and said she believed he was in Malta because she saw he was in the vicinity on a map.

“The police say that's when they last heard from her.”

Mr Johnston, armed with a replica gun, died after engaging with armed police in the St Julian's area of the island.

The city of Birkirkara in Malta. Image: Universal Images Group North America LLC / DeAgostini / Alamy Stock Photo

Mr Zammit said police were working on the assumption that the weapon was real.

“It was really dark, and the police say they couldn't see that the gun was actually fake,” he said.

“It was a replica of a real gun. They say even if it was during the daytime, the replicas are so similar to the real thing that they wouldn't have known.”

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it “is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance.”

"As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases."