The Special Criminal Court has heard how gardaí intercepted two men on their way to a shooting after using a secret listening device during a surveillance operation.
The court heard a transcript of the conversation in which the men described in detail how the target should be killed.
Mr Justice Tony Hunt said the recording was "self explanatory" and showed the intention to murder.
The two men who originally faced a charge of conspiracy to murder. However, they later pleaded guilty to lesser charges of possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life and will be sentenced later.
The court was told that 34-year-old Gary Gleeson from Muskerry Road in Ballyfermot and 39-year-old Stephen Dunne from Meile an Rí Drive in Lucan were "hired hands" or foot soldiers contracted by senior crime figures to kill another man, 39-year-old Michael Frazer.
Det Inspector David Gallagher told the Special Criminal court that officers from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau received information about a plan to kill Mr Frazer.
They began a surveillance operation and learned that a Fiat van carrying logos and numbers for a fake electrical company had been parked for a time in Park West Business Park in Dublin. Two men were using a VW Golf to access the van.
An audio surveillance device was placed in the van and on the 7 August it became clear to gardaí that something significant was being planned.
After hearing a conversation between the two men in the van gardaí became aware there was a firearm in the van ready to be used.
Gardaí said Gary Gleeson was heard to say: "Aim for the head yeah, have to get him in the head. Head shots or we don’t get f**king paid."
Mr Dunne replies: "Once I get him a bit, I've to walk right up to him you know what I mean, do you get me? I just keep walking closer yeah, as soon we block him I’m going to let a shot off in the van yeah, and then once I get him a bit I'll keep walking towards him yeah, right up to the windscreen and I'll just keep shooting yeah, and around to the side and I keep shooting yeah?"
Mr Gleeson then says: "Riddle him".
Gardaí moved in to arrest the two men and a 9mm pistol was found in the car. It had one round in the breach and a magazine with nine further rounds was in the gun. The gun was cocked and ready for use, the court was told.
Gardaí also found a can of petrol, tissues, rubber gloves and a lighter.
Inspector Gallagher said it was gardaí's belief that Mr Dunne and Mr Gleeson were hired by senior criminal figures to shoot Michael Frazer who had been told his life was in danger.
Inspector Gallagher agreed however, that Mr Dunne and Mr Gleeson were not senior crime figures and were hired hands or foot soldiers.
Defence counsel said they both had chronic drug problems and difficulty with debts. They said an early guilty plea had saved the court and the gardaí significant time and resources.
Mr Justice Hunt said many people who passed through the courts had drug problems but did not go around shooting people. He said both defendants and the target were lucky that gardaí had intercepted.
Counsel for Mr Dunne Michael Bowman told the court his client was not particularly well versed with firearms and it appeared he did not know the difference between the safety catch being on or off.
It also transpired that while the gun had one bullet loaded, it would not have been able to fire any more bullets from the magazine. Inspector Gallagher said this would not have become apparent until after the first shot was fired and said the first shot could also have killed.
The case was adjourned until 13 July and the men will be sentenced later.
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