A MANHUNT is underway today for the murderers who gunned down Aidan O’Driscoll in Blackpool.

As gardaí hunt for at least two people today, officers are examining the dead man’s links to Dublin and Limerick to establish a motive for his murder. One line of investigation is the possibility that the Real IRA carried out the hit because he was suspected of stealing money from the organisation.

However, informed sources said he had a lot of enemies in the criminal world.

A post mortem examination was due to get underway this morning at Cork University Hospital, where the 37-year-old died last night after attempts to save his life failed.

The area at Old Commons Road was still sealed off this morning as gardaí carried out forensics at the scene near Orchard Court apartments.

A press conference was held near the scene in Blackpool by gardaí this morning.

His murder came just months before he was set to get married in Cork next May.

Gardaí area appealing for help from motorists who passed the scene yesterday evening and who have not yet spoken to them.

They are also appealing to people in the area of Redemption Road/Seminary Road, and the Killeens area, to help them track the movements of the killers following the shooting.

One car was found burnt out at Redemption Road. The silver Nissan Almera is believed to have ferried the attackers from the scene of the shooting, before being set on fire at Redemption Road.

Gardaí are now trying to establish if the white estate van found burnt out at Killeens, near the Sunset Ridge, had been parked on Redemption Road for some time before yesterday’s shooting.

Both cars were registered to a false name and address.

Shortly before the white estate van was set alight in Killeens, a red Astra was seen in the area. Gardaí are pursuing the likelihood that the red car was used as a getaway vehicle to take the culprits from that area.

Officers believe the hit on Aidan O’Driscoll was well planned, given that the junction at Redemption Road and Seminary Road has been blocked off for road works for some time.

Superintendent Mick Comyns said: “We are looking for anyone who saw anything at that junction at around 5pm yesterday evening to contact us.”

Gardaí know that at least three people were involved in the incident yesterday, including two at the scene and one to drive them from Killeens.

Aidan O’Driscoll was heavily involved in the Real IRA prior to falling out with the organisation in recent years.

In 2013, he was shot in the legs in a punishment attack.

He had moved back to Cork in recent times, after previously living in Dublin in the aftermath of the slaying of Real IRA leader Alan Ryan in 2012. He later lived in Limerick before returning to Cork.

Friends and acquaintances of the dead man said he had cleaned up his life in recent times and had returned to play GAA with Delanys.

Local Fianna Fáil councillor John Sheehan was at the scene shortly after the shooting yesterday.

He said this morning that the area of Blackpool is in shock after yesterday’s events, particularly as the shooting had occurred in a residential area where many elderly people live.

He said: “It was a brutal and vicious attack and it is very upsetting for people in Blackpool. There was a lot of people walking in the area.”

AAA/PBP TD Mick Barry said: “It’s a shocking event. The killing took place right alongside places where children play and where people go to work. My own office is right around the corner and my own home is just three minutes walk away. This is a peaceful and a decent community and the people want no truck with gangsters and their deeds.”

Mayfield gardaí can be contacted on 021-4558510.See also