A murder investigation is due to get underway today after the victim of a shooting in Dublin died in hospital. Declan Smith was shot after dropping his son off at a creche in Donaghmede last Friday.

Exactly one week ago, Mr. Smith (32) was shot in the face by a lone gunman who approached him after he dropped his son off at the Little Rainbows Creche at Holywell Avenue.

He was rushed to Beaumont Hospital where he remained in a critical condition until he lost his fight for life overnight.

Originally from Belfast, he had well known links with the Real IRA and was considered a close friend of the organisation's former leader Alan Ryan - who was shot dead in September 2012.

Gardaí at the scene of last Friday's shooting in Donaghmede

He was wanted for questioning in connection with the murder of two men in Northern Ireland seven years ago.

This was not the first attempt on his life. In January of last year, he was shot in the leg at a housing estate in south Dublin.

The State Pathologist Marie Cassidy is due to carry out a post mortem today and a murder inquiry is likely to get underway as soon as the results are made available to gardai.

Cathal McMahon is Crime Correspondent with the the Irish Mirror. He says Declan Smith was a well-known criminal.