The killing of Noel Duggan in a gangland-style attack in Co Meath was described as "a cruel, cowardly and callous act" at his funeral mass in Ratoath on Monday.
Fr Brendan Ludlow said the lives of the Duggan family had been plunged into darkness by the killing of the father of three on Spy Wednesday, "the very day associated with the cowardly and spineless decision of Judas".
“As we Christians recalled the events of holy week in the liturgies of recent days, the lives of the Duggan family have been plunged into darkness, as their own personal journey to Calvary unfolded - A journey which began with a cruel, cowardly and callous act, last Wednesday evening (the very day associated with the cowardly and spineless decision of Judas),” he said.
“As it was, for the followers of Jesus on Mount Calvary, the Duggan family’s world has been shaken, their lives have been rocked to the core…the light has been eclipsed. Their world has been cast into darkness.
“Like those women of the post resurrection scenes, the priority of the Duggan family in these days was to be allowed privacy and space to celebrate a dignified Requiem Mass and the rites of Christian Burial for Noel.”
Support
Fr Ludlow said he hoped the Duggan family felt reassured by “the support and prayers of the Christian community as we journey with them at this difficult hour”.
The chief mourners were Duggan’s wife Belinda, sons Garreth, Darren and daughter Nicola.
The first reading was delivered by the murdered man’s son, Garreth and the second by his grand nephew. The gifts of bread and wine were presented by his son, Darren and daughter in law, Donna.
Duggan (55) was ambushed as he sat in his car outside his home in The Old Mill housing estate in Ratoath at approximately 7.45pm last Wednesday.
Garda sources said it appeared the attack was well planned
Duggan made one of the largest settlements with the Criminal Assets Bureau and was a key player in the lucrative cigarette smuggling trade which flourished during the recession.
He had a very close personal relationship with Gerry Hutch, the suspected armed robber also known as the Monk.
Gang
Gardaí believe Duggan was targeted by Dublin-based members of the organised crime gang led from Spain by Dubliner Christy Kinahan because he was so closely linked to Hutch.
The Kinahan gang is embroiled in a rapidly worsening feud with criminals loyal to Gerry Hutch's nephew Gary Hutch (34) from Dublin's north inner city. Gary Hutch, who was once a member of the Kinahan gang, was accused of being a police informer by his associates and was shot dead in Spain last September.
Last month some of his associates stormed into the Regency Hotel in Drumcondra, north Dublin, where they knew members of the Kinahan gang would be gathered for a boxing tournament weigh-in.
Using AK47s and handguns, at least five gunmen opened fire, killing Kinahan gang member David Byrne (33) from Crumlin, and wounding two other men.
Three days later Eddie Hutch (58) - a taxi driver uncle of Gary Hutch and the brother of Gerry Hutch - was shot dead at his home in Dublin's north inner city.
Hutch’s murder was regarded as revenge for the Regency Hotel attack, even though Eddie Hutch was not involved in organised crime.
Mr Duggan was the latest victim of this worsening feud.