Updated: 21.45

A CAREER CRIMINAL escaped an assassination attempt on his life this evening.

The man, who is well-known to gardaí, was sitting in a car in the Rathbeale Crescent area of Swords, north Dublin, when a gunman shot several rounds into the vehicle.

The man was uninjured in the attack which occurred shortly after 7pm.

The pensioner, who has served time on the continent, has not yet given a statement to gardaí.

He would have been one of the major players in the international drug trade back in the 1990s.

The man would also have had links to the INLA.

Officers believe they have found the car used in the attack, a black Audi which was discovered on fire near the airport shortly after the incident.

No arrests have been made so far and gardaí are investigating the incident.

Local councillor Darragh Butler told TheJournal.ie: “We’re shocked to see the violence come to Swords. It’s such a quiet little estate . To be honest, it’s one of the last places you’d expect this to happen.

“I suppose we have to be thankful that there were no passersby heading out for Friday night or coming home to work.

“It all so easily could have been different.”

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