THE FUNERAL has taken place of Aidan O'Kane who was shot dead in East Wall, north Dublin, almost two weeks ago.
Between 150 and 200 mourners gathered at St Anthony's Church, St Lawrence Road, Clontarf, for the funeral Mass yesterday morning.
Mr O'Kane, a widower, lived in Clontarf for many years and had moved into Shelmalier Road, East Wall, almost one year ago.
Fr Tom McCarthy urged mourners to practise forgiveness following the murder of the 50-year-old, who was shot dead as he chased a group of teenagers from his home.
The low-key funeral Mass was followed by burial at St Fintan's Cemetery in nearby Sutton, where Mr O'Kane's parents and his brother are buried in a family plot.
Mr O'Kane's son Dillon and the dead man's brothers, Barry and Séamus, led the mourners which included family and friends and constituency Labour TD Joe Costello.
A friend of Mr O'Kane's identified only as Derek briefly addressed those gathered.
He said Dublin had turned into a more violent place in recent years.
"I knew Aidan in the Dublin that we all loved and I lost Aidan in the Dublin that we don't love as much," he said.
Fr McCarthy said he had chosen Luke's Gospel for the ceremony because it advocated forgiveness and compassion.
He said the family were in shock but were coping with their ordeal as best they could.
Mr O'Kane, a car mechanic originally from Clontarf, was shot dead last Sunday week close to his home in a laneway between Shelmalier Road and Bargy Road in East Wall.
Gardaí believe he was chasing some youths from his house when one of them shot him with a handgun during the pursuit. The murder has been the subject of a major Garda investigation.
A 16-year-old youth has been charged with murder and gardaí have recovered a 9mm handgun they believe was used in the shooting.
Mr O'Kane's funeral was delayed for about a week because his remains were being examined as part of the investigation into his murder.
