THEY say in journalism that a picture is worth a thousand words. I saw proof of that last evening outside the suburban funeral home from which Veronica Guerin began her final journey.
The reality of what had happened to the investigative journalist was written in her son's face. Cathal had been inside the funeral home for over an hour with his father, Graham Turley, and his family, as the country's political leaders offered their condolences and sympathy.
The seven-year-old met the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, and the opposition leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, who was a close friend of his mother.
His father had arrived early at Stafford's Funeral Home on the Malahide Road. His family and Veronica's arrived shortly after 5 p.m.
They remained beside the open coffin as an almost never-ending line of dignitaries paid their respects.
Among them was the extended Fianna Fail family, with which his mother had strong links and for which she had worked for several years: Dr Michael Woods, Mr Michael Martin, Mr Ivor Callely, Mr Noel Treacy, Mr Michael Smith and Mrs Maire Geoghegan-Quinn.
Also there were Ms Mary O'Rourke and Mr Martin Mansergh, with whom Veronica Guerin had worked closely on the New Ireland Forum. The late Brian Lenihan's son, Conor, was there to represent his father and underline his friendship with the murdered woman. Fianna Fail's Tom Stafford handled the last details at the funeral home.
Cathal also met the Taoiseach's brother, Mr Richard Bruton, and the Assistant Garda Commissioners, Patrick O'Toole and James McHugh, and the Deputy Commissioner, Pat Byrne.
Her friend and Guardian journalist and war correspondent, "Maggie O'Kane, waited for the coffin. Beside her was Mr Nicky Kelly a Wicklow councillor.
A man who also knows the horror murder brings to a family, Mr James Livingstone, a tax official living in Malahide, arrived shortly "before 6 p.m to pay his respects. The murder of his wife, Grace, remains unresolved.
Outside, many of Veronica Guerin's colleagues from the Irish Independent and other Dublin newspapers lined the street.
Unlike the happy, smiling little boy pictured in the newspapers this week with his parents, photographers yesterday captured Cathal's grief as his tears flowed.