The mother of murder victim Shane Geoghegan has expressed her "deep-felt thanks” to the people of Limerick and further afield for what she said was the “unbelieveable response” and sympathy received by the family.
The popular 28-year-old was shot and killed early on Sunday in a case of mistaken identity. Gardaí believe Mr Geoghegan was targeted by criminals who intended to kill one of their drug dealing rivals in the quiet Dooradoyle area of the city.
The rugby captain was killed after leaving a friend’s house where he had spent the evening watching Ireland’s match against Canada on television.
Thousands of people lined the streets of Limerick to pay tribute to Mr Geoghegan whose funeral was held today.
Speaking ahead of his funeral, his mother Mary Geoghegan said: “We deeply appreciate your thoughts and your support is a great consolation to us all."
A book of condolence, opened at Limerick City Hall, has received hundreds of messages of support from a community shocked by Mr Geoghegan’s brutal killing.
The Limerick Leadernewspaper has also set up a special webpage with messages posted from people throughout Ireland and abroad.
The Bishop of Limerick today called on the community to honour Mr Geoghegan's memory and act in solidarity by reporting any relevant information on the murder to the gardaí.
"All human life is precious and murder is never acceptable. As a community we all have a responsibility to protect life. The death of Shane has shocked all of Limerick and beyond," said Bishop Donal Murray.
“This senseless killing of an innocent man with his whole life before him is further evidence of the futility of this evil feud, and the callous inhumanity with which it is pursued," he added.
Garryowen rugby club said it would retire the number three jersey across all teams in the club for the remainder of the season.
"From here on, we will be strengthened in the knowledge that every Garryowen team that takes the pitch will have Shane as our sixteenth man, there beside us," the club said in a statement.
"We join with the people of Limerick and everywhere else in calling for an end to the criminality that has caused Shane’s death, and in particular we would like to offer our fullest support and thanks to the gardai, in their efforts to achieve that."
Close friend and neighbour of Ms Geoghegan, model agent Hillary Thompson today said the family was moved by all the support.
“[Shane's mother] told me she was touched by people signing books of condolence, lighting candles on the Limerick Leader website and all the support from Garryowen Rugby Club,” said Ms Thompson.“It’s horrendous. It’s the most awful thing imaginable. My heart goes out to the whole family.”
Residents in Dooradoyle where Mr Geoghegan was killed, said today they had feared for over a year that a murder would happen in the area.
Last November, a Residents' Alliance was formed in Ballinacurra, Caherdavin and Dooradoyle, areas where concern was expressed that people who moved from the regeneration areas of Moyross and Southill into their estates “could spread the problem even further”.
“We knew this was going to happen. The criminal fraternity has now spread all the way into County Limerick and people in every estate in Dooradoyle are frightened. These people have no respect for anybody, for kids, for property, nothing. They didn’t respect the areas where they came from, why would they respect Dooradoyle?” said a statement for the association.
Local residents claim their concerns were ignored by local politicians, the gardaí and regeneration agencies.
Residents say they also requested additional policing for the area, and were informed that one extra garda and one sergeant were allocated to the area but based in Roxboro Garda Station rather than on the ground in Dooradoyle.