Police have confirmed the man murdered in Newry on Thursday, December 1, was Mark Lovell.

The 58 year old was shot a number of times, at close range, outside his home in the Ardcarn Park area of the city shortly after 6pm.

Detectives from the PSNI’s Major Investigation Team have launched a murder investigation and are continuing to appeal for witnesses or anyone with information or footage to get in touch by calling 101, quoting reference 1600 01/12/22.

In October this year, Lovell cheated death when a gunman fired shots through the window of a house in Woodbury Gardens, Dundalk, Co Louth.

He was rushed to hospital with a gunshot wound.

His pet dog was killed in the incident.

It is believed Lovell, who has been linked to both acid and arson attacks on rivals, was working as a driver alongside dealers and assisting with the distribution of drugs.

PSNI Superintendent Norman Haslett said on Friday: “We believe those responsible went to great lengths to plan this attack and they lay in wait for their victim to come home and they essentially ambushed him and executed him.

“The victim was a husband, he was a father and he was a son and he was shot multiple times at close range.

“The level of violence used was reprehensible particularly given the time of day, tea time on a week night in a busy residential area of Newry with people coming home from work and children and families going about their business on the run up to Christmas.

“It was beyond reckless and any child or family member or neighbour could easily have been caught up in the gunfire. Those responsible had no thought whatsoever for the victim or his family or the local community.

“They have no moral compass and I would condemn their actions in the strongest possible terms. They have left a grieving family in the mouth of Christmas.

“It is our responsibility now to bring those to justice who were responsible for carrying out this crime.”

No arrests have been made and MIT detectives are liaising with Garda detectives in Dundalk over possible suspects for the murder.