Man killed in Irish street shooting

DUBLIN, Ireland (Reuters) -- A 35-year-old man was shot and killed as he walked along a street in Dundalk on Saturday night, the second murder in recent weeks in the town close to the border with Northern Ireland, Irish police said.

Two masked gunmen approached the victim on foot and shot him several times, killing him instantly.

Police identified the victim as Nicholas O'Hare, a man who had been living locally but was believed to have been originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Police did not give a motive for the killing and refused to comment on reports that the victim had links with the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA).

"We haven't linked him to any grouping at this time," a police spokesman said.

There was speculation that the killing was in retaliation for the murder of local pub owner Stephen Connolly in Dundalk three weeks ago.

Local media reports said Connolly had been killed because he had refused to pay protection money.

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