The north Dublin thug shot dead in Belfast today is suspected to have been about to carry out a gangland hit - or extort money.
Dublin Live has learned that that notorious crime boss Robbie Lawlor, who was gunned down at close range in the Ardoyne area of the city on Saturday morning, was intent on "either killing someone or hammering someone for money".
One theory is that the 35-year-old was intent on carrying out a hit. The other lead that investigators are following is that the ruthless thug was on a mission to collect money by force.
Sources have told Dublin Live that both possibilities are being examined and the deceased, who is well known to garda, is a chief suspect in the abduction and murder of a Co Louth teenager who was stabbed and dismembered earlier this year.
Keane Mulready-Woods was dismembered and his body parts scattered around north Dublin after he was murdered on January 12.
Police in Northern Ireland are now liaising with gardai over the gangland-style execution, which happened around 11:50 this morning.
Lawlor was blasted several times and was pronounced dead at the scene. Three men were arrested in relation to the shooting yesterday. A fourth was picked up today.
They are being held Musgrave Police Station on suspicion of murder.
The PSNI said they are following a number of lines of inquiry and will not speculate as to a motive for the murder as they continue to question the four suspects.
Lawlor was well known to gardai and had over 100 previous convictions. He was only been released from prison last December.
The violent north Dublin criminal, who was a major player in Drogheda's ongoing gang feud, had been warned by gardai that his life was in danger before he travelled to Belfast.
