The emotions from a packed courtroom in the capital's Four Courts spilled out on to the streets as convicted murderer Brian Kearney was taken away for his first night in prison.
Siobhan Kearney's siblings embraced one another in a doorway to the courtyard of the old grey building, gathering to catch one final glimpse of the man who murdered their beloved sister - a man who was once a part of their large close-knit family.
Her parents, Owen and Deirdre McLaughlin, stood back from the crowd and waited to be reunited with their children once the killer passed through the courts' gates.
As Kearney was led to a prison van flanked by guards, he was heckled by members of the public. Once united in grief but now united by justice, the McLaughlin family made their way to the waiting media.
But amid a crush and scuffles the distressed family members were pushed and separated. They were forced back behind the gates guarding the courts by security staff and gardai where Siobhan's sister, Aisling McLaughlin, read a statement through the wrought iron bars to the media and onlookers.
The silent hush that earlier fell over the packed courtroom as the jury delivered its guilty verdict returned. In a strong, composed voice, Aisling paid tribute to her strong and extraordinary sister, but told of the family's heartache of not being able to save her in her own home.
"The faith and the trust that we have had in our Criminal Justice system has not been misplaced and we have not been let down," said Aisling.
"Today, Siobhan has got justice, we have got justice and Siobhan's murderer has got justice, and for that, we are most thankful.
"Since that day, Tuesday, February 28th 2006, our lives have been utterly destroyed by this brutal and pointless act of savagery, from which they can not, nor ever will be the same.
"As a very close family, we are haunted by the fact that we were not able to help Siobhan that morning - that she was alone in the last and the worst minutes of her life - unaware that the place she felt safest, was, in fact, the most treacherous.
"We are so blessed to have known and to have someone as special as Seanie in our lives - we miss her every hour of every day, and the unbearable longing to see her, to hold her and to protect her never leaves you, even though you know it is too late.
"But Siobhan has been with us every day since that day, she has never moved and she continues to live in each one of us - she is strong and she has given us extraordinary strength to keep going - Siobhan needs peace now, to sleep peacefully, knowing that everything that can be done, has been done."
Siobhan's mother Deirdre McLaughlin said the family's faith in God has kept them going. She said her one consolation over the last two years was that a nun told her Siobhan's soul went straight to heaven so fast no-one could measure the time it took.
"These words stayed with our family for two years," said Mrs McLaughlin. "This day, it's just wonderful. "Justice has been done and we are very happy, but we are heartbroken. At least he has been brought to justice.
"The last two years have been absolutely horrendous and absolutely unbearable, but at least now there is a tiny but of closure. But it will never be closed."