A priest at the funeral of a murdered Limerick man has condemned the actions of criminal gangs whose greed for money from the sale of drugs has resulted in the loss of many young lives.
Fr Donough O'Malley was speaking at the funeral Mass of Gareth Grant (25), who was buried yesterday a week after he was shot dead just yards from his home in St Mary's Park estate.
The father-of-three was gunned down on St Ita's Street despite the presence in the area of armed gardaí who were carrying out checkpoints.
During his homily in nearby St Mary's church yesterday, Fr O'Malley called on the congregation to choose a life of peace. "Drugs foolishly taken also cause death. Now there is a void that needs to be filled. This is not the way to go. Choose peace and life, not death."
He told mourners that no human being had the right to take the life of another.
"All of you and all who are gathered here today are devastated with grief, emptiness and sorrow on the death of a very young man.
"There is only one way forward from the abyss of hell but you must have the guts to choose the right way and the courage to make the effort."
Gareth Grant is survived by his parents Gabrielle and Ben, partner Claire and children Rebecca, Taylor and Gareth.
A postmortem revealed he died from a single gun shot wound to the upper body.