As a young Limerick murder victim was laid to rest yesterday, detectives were examining his mobile phone records in a bid to track down his killer.
Last night it emerged that Mr Robert Fitzgerald (23), from Moyross, was found murdered with his mobile phone still in his hand. He was shot once in the back and once in the head shortly after leaving a party in the Moyross area last Tuesday morning.
Part of the Garda investigation will focus on Mr Fitzgerald's mobile phone records. It is still unclear whether or not he received a call before leaving the party or whether he used his phone to call for help.
"We are not in a position to say that yet but the calls are being examined," said Insp John Courtney, who added that house-to-house inquiries were still under way.
"We are also examining CCTV footage from cameras in the area and we would appeal to anyone who knows anything to come forward. There are 6,000 people living in Moyross and someone must know something."
He said gardaí were still searching for the weapon - believed to be handgun - used in the attack.
"The search is still under way for the firearm which we believe was a handgun but we are still waiting for the technical bureau to confirm what calibre of a weapon it was," he said.
Detectives have also spent the last few days interviewing people who were at the party which Mr Fitzgerald attended shortly before his death.
Speaking at the funeral mass yesterday, local parish priest Father Frank O'Dea called for an end to violence. He said the community of Moyross "like any other community" yearned for peace.
"Violence may be our most immediate response as we try to right a wrong but as we all know only too well violence is not the answer. Violence is not the way forward."
He went on to remember Mr Fitzgerald, who was described by his family as a "gentle giant". Mourners were led yesterday by the victim's father, Mr Robert Fitzgerald snr, and his grandmother, Ms Mary Fitzgerald, who reared her grandson from a young age.
Mr Fitzgerald's death is not believed to be linked to recent shootings in the Moyross area or the ongoing feud which led to the murder of Mr Kieran Keane last January. However, an exact motive for the attack remains unclear.