Updated 8pm

AN EX-CHIEF of Staff of the Real IRA has died following a shooting in Cork city this evening.

Dissident republican Aidan O’Driscoll, 37, has been named as the victim of the gun attack outside the Church of the Annunciation on Great William O’Brien Street, Blackpool at about 5pm today.

It is understood O’Driscoll – who is often referred to by his nickname The Beast – was shot a number of times in the back.

He was given medical assistance at the scene and taken to Cork University Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. A post-mortem is to be arranged.

Gardaí are currently at the scene, which has been preserved for technical examinations.

Two partially burnt-out cars have been found in different locations nearby – one on Redemption Road in Blackpool and the other in Killeens, county Cork.

Gardaí in Mayfield have appealed for witnesses.

The Real IRA is a dissident republican organisation which has been heavily linked to criminality in recent years.

With reporting by Órla Ryan