Residents in Kilcronan, Clondalkin, said they were shocked to hear that a man had been gunned down at his own home in this normally quiet Dublin neighbourhood.
Thomas Farnan (37) died on Monday night when a lone gunman entered the hallway of his house and shot him a number of times.
Much of the estate at Cluainin Cronan was sealed off on Tuesday as gardaí carried out investigations. A section of the Grand Canal, which the estate backs onto, was also closed as gardaí searched the area.
A neighbour of Mr Farnan’s said he heard the gunfire shortly after 11.30pm. He added that the estate was usually peaceful and violence such as Monday night’s would be very much out of the ordinary.
Mr Farnan’s body remained at the scene on Tuesday morning. Shortly before noon, members of his family arrived to place flowers at his home. An ambulance left the scene at about 12.30pm.
A local woman said the news of the killing made her feel sick. “This area is usually good. I’m here 20 years and I’ve never really had any preoblems,” she said. “There’s been other stuff going on [elsewhere in Clondalkin]. But never around this area as far as I know.
“Last year there was a lot of break-ins around the houses. Someone tried my back door but they didn’t get in, thank God. But that’s the only thing. It’s been fairly quiet, there’s been nothing really. You’d here of other estates but never this one. This one is really quiet.”
Another resident said the incident was “terrible” but she also said that the neighbourhood was usually quiet. Others described the victim as a nice man who mostly kept to himself.
One woman said she was shocked to hear about the shooting but even more shocked when she found out who the victim was . A man who claimed to be good friends with Mr Farnan said he was a “lovely” man.
Mr Farnan had a history of chaotic offending which began in his teenage years but he had not been charged with any crimes for more than a decade.
According to gardaí, the gunman who killed him is believed to have fled along the Grand Canal and then exited onto the green area towards Lock View Road.
He was described as wearing all black clothing, black runners, a black tracksuit and may have been wearing a balaclava; he is also described as being short in height. An incident room has been established at Clondalkin Garda station.
