Gardai are probing if gangster James “Nellie” Walsh was set up after he survived a second murder bid.
Walsh, 36, cheated death after shots were fired at him in Carlow town on Monday night.
Sources say he was in the area to buy a vehicle when a gunman fired four shots at him in the Laurels estate shortly before 7pm.
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Miraculously, none of them hit Walsh and the gunman fled.
A source said: “They wanted him dead. He was a very lucky man.”
Walsh, who served more than seven years behind bars over a shooting in 2014, has been involved in a long-running feud with another criminal and gardai suspect that was the motive for Monday’s attack.
He also survived a terrifying machine gun attack in Tallaght, South Dublin on October 25.
That attack led to Walsh fleeing the capital having been officially warned of a threat to his life.
Gardai fear he may have been set up and are probing how the gunman knew exactly where he was going to be on Monday night.
Despite the attack, Walsh is refusing to co-operate with gardai.
A Garda spokesman has appealed for witnesses to Monday night’s shooting to contact them.
“Officers in Carlow are investigating a shooting incident that occurred in Carlow on Monday, December 5.
“At approximately 6pm, gardai were alerted after a number of shots were fired at a house in the Laurels Estate on Tullow Road. A window to the front of the property was damaged but there was no reports of any injuries.
“It’s understood those responsible fled from the scene in car. The scene was preserved and a technical examination is currently taking place along with local enquires.
“Gardai are appealing to anyone who was in the Laurels Estate area between 5.30pm and 6.30pm on Monday who may have witnessed this incident to come forward.”
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