AN appeal to the public to give its full co operation to gardai was made at the funeral Mass in Limerick yesterday for Mr Sean Colbert (53), a part time musician, who was killed outside his home on Friday morning with a shotgun.
Gardai are considering the possibility that it may have been a contract killing because the dead man's personal affairs had become entangled with those of a local criminal.
The celebrant at the Mass, Father Joseph Foley, curate at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Rosbrien, described Mr Colbert's death as "a shocking tragedy".
No one under any circumstances should claim the right to take a human life, no matter what the reason may be," he said.
He added: "Seanie's family have suffered a great blow and a severe loss."
Father Foley told the family which included the dead man's widow, Mrs Helen Colbert, and eight children, including the youngest, Andrew (14), who first attended his father after the shooting, that "the whole community feels your loss and supports you in it".
Father Foley said: "Naturally we ask why did it happen. There is a tendency to say `it is the will of God', but God did not will this tragedy to happen."
The priest described the late Mr Colbert as "a fun loving character known almost to everyone in the city". His love of music was his life, and with his group The Elms, composed of members of his family, he also gave benefit performances for charitable purposes.
The parish church was crowded with mourners, many of them in tears. Assisting at the Mass were Father Donogh O'Malley PP and Father Noel Kirwan, chaplain at the Regional Hospital.
Gardai have said that Mr Colbert had no criminal background and that his death did not appear to be connected with drugs or money lending.
On St Stephen's night last he was shot in the thigh while unloading musical instruments outside a football pavilion. A man wearing a balaclava fired once from a shotgun through a hedge and disappeared across the fields.
Insp Frank O'Brien said gardai were making good progress and the public response had been magnificent. He asked anyone with information, no matter how insignificant, to contact the Garda in confidence.
A house to house inquiry in different areas of the city is being conducted by gardai.