Veronica Guerin murder suspect John Gilligan shot in Dublin

John Gilligan was released from prison in the Irish Republic last October

A convicted drug dealer, who was acquitted of the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin, has been seriously injured in a shooting in Dublin.

John Gilligan, 61, was shot at his brother's house at Greenfort Crescent, in the Clondalkin area, at about 19:00 GMT on Saturday.

Two gunmen forced their way in to the house and fired several shots at him. He was hit in the chest and leg.

His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Gilligan was released from prison last October after serving 17 years for drugs offences.

He had been warned by police that his life was in danger.

The scene of the shooting in west Dublin

A gunman went in to a Dublin pub looking for him in December, but he was not there.

Gilligan was originally given a 28-year sentence in March 2001 for drug offences. The sentence was reduced by eight years on appeal in 2003.

Ms Guerin, an investigative reporter for the Sunday Independent, was shot six times at point blank range in 1996.

She was targeted in her car at traffic lights by a gunman on a motorbike.

Gilligan was eventually acquitted of her murder after a lengthy trial at Dublin's Special Criminal Court in 2001.