Gardai say the victim of last night's shooting in Lucan was gunned down while his wife and children were in the house.
46-year-old James Talbot died in hospital after a gang of men burst into his home at Abbeywood Court.
At around 10.30 last night, a number of men forced their way into Mr. Talbot's home and shot him several times in the chest.
He was rushed to Blanchardstown Hospital but lost his fight for life this morning.
Gardai say his wife and four children were in the house at the time but it's not yet clear if they witnessed the attack.
Some neighbours heard shots being fired last night, and have described it as a "terrifying experience".
A burnt out Toyota Avensis believed to be used as the getaway car was found in a nearby estate shortly afterwards.
Gardai say Mr. Talbot was known to them and served a significant jail term for a drugs offence in 1998.
A forensics team is combing through his house as we speak and a post mortem is also underway.