Ryan family issues ‘no retaliation’ plea

The family of Vincent Ryan who was shot dead outside his partner's house in Dublin this week has appealed for no retaliation for the murder.

Mr Ryan, who is the brother of murdered Real IRA chief Alan Ryan, died in hospital on Monday after he was ambushed and shot a number of times as he sat in a car on McKee Road in Finglas.

In a statement issued this evening, the Ryan family criticised media reports that the car was previously owned by a drug dealer as “false and misleading”.

The family said they have provided gardaí with documents relating to the purchase of the vehicle and the identity of the garage where the car was purchased.

“Vincent just like any other citizen who purchases a car in a garage would not be aware of who the previous owners were,” they said.

The family also contested reports alleging Mr Ryan (25) had been questioned in relation to the provision of AK 47 machine guns used in the Regency Hotel attack last month and said the allegation "is totally without foundation."

Describing Mr Ryan as “a staunch and honourable Republican” who “held his beliefs until his death,” the family said he had not reported back to the IRA following his release from prison.

Since his release, he had "solely been concerned with building his business as a barber and creating a family life with his partner Kelly and new born baby Phoenix and had stepped aside from involvement in Republican activity," the family said in the statement.

The family said he will receive “a traditional Republican family funeral”.

“For the avoidance of any doubt he will not receive a military funeral. We would ask that the media and the State would allow us to bury him with honour and dignity.”

“The family calls for no retaliation and for an end to the senseless violence being carried out on our streets by drug gangs,” the statement concluded.

Mr Ryan will be buried on Tuesday following Mass at Holy Trinity Church, Donaghmeade.